Sabai, preamp often helps with impedance matching, but it is also a matter of personal preference. How do you define sound quality? Is it transparency? That wouldn't be improved by adding additional elements in the chain. I see sound quality as a personal preference. Some people like warmth other like transparency. My wife doesn't like strong pronounced bass while many are searching for it. I like transparency, microdetail and midrange is very important to me, but I've read opinion that sound had too much resolution (looking for mushy sound?). Person was asking how to make sound warmer and less! detailed (I told him to put blankets over the speakers). Many people select tube preamp to add warmth to otherwise neutral amplifier. No right or wrong here.
Thoughts on the Signal Path
There are those who stick to the notion -- no matter what -- that adding length to the signal path must be a negative for SQ, ipso facto. I am wondering about this in light of the fact that so many people say that using a preamp improves the sound of their system.
Your thoughts on the signal path?
Your thoughts on the signal path?