Thoughts on the Signal Path

You can match gear well and do well without an active pre-amp if you know what your doing but I think it gets harder to get the same sound out that you want from multiple different sounding sources without one. Active pre-amps are the great equalizers....literally!

Forgot to include that the pre in the hk990 integrated is active. Agree. I don't think I'd be ultimately happy with a passive line stage and that if you use one you have to know what you're doing which includes using an amp with the right sensitivity.

The longer the signal path, the greater the capacitance, yes?

You would think.

Might wreck havoc on phase coherence as well.

At least if really long.

Purist's want to keep everything short and simple. Of course how often are purists right when it comes to the big picture? Synthesis is usually more effective when done well. if its too pure, you are probably missing something.

You lost me. Example please?