Is no preamp really better that a good preamp?

Yes Bdp24 that goes for everything active or passive from the source output to the poweramp input.
If impedances matching is not correct (Ohms Laws) and the current is compromised (Kirchoffs' Laws).
No amount of voodoo speak will solve the problem. This is why I asked Phd to name preamps that can drive better than the output of the OP's PS Audio Dac.

BTW: I don't know how passive came into this conversation, maybe it was just a bit of baiting?? The OP question was just "Is no preamp really better that a good preamp?"

Rustler: Almarg and I have both told you have a great match to go direct, and adding an active pre is going to do nothing but colour the sound and put a hole in your pocket.

Cheers George

Rustler ... I have a similar set up using Martin Logan and Spectron running both digital and analog sources directly for a while. I eventually added a tube line stage. While I cannot say the sound was better per your original question, I enjoy the flexibility of having a different presentation. I always like the analog source passing thru the line stage, but for digital it depends on how I want to feel or the music I am listening to. If I want to feel upbeat and engaged, the digital source goes directly to the amp and if I want to feel relaxed, I add the line stage to the signal path. Others might feel the opposite, but for me this is what happens.

Umm, maybe using the forums for financial gain?
Andrew9405 (Answers | This Thread)

Hmm! So designers cannot participate in forums when they are not pushing their own products?? One believes in active and the other passive or no preamp with supporting arguments.

Personally I find their posts valuable with ACCURATE information especially Atmasphere since I'm also a tube guy and believe in active preamps.

I believe technical questions are best handled by contacting the manufacturer(s) directly via private email.

Using the forums for financial gain, under the guise of "providing information", is both unethical and inappropriate. And it's the usual suspects time after time.

Audiogon provides a classified section for vendors to sell their products.

I guess we disagree.

Using the forums for financial gain, under the guise of "providing information", is both unethical and inappropriate. And it's the usual suspects time after time.

Audiogon provides a classified section for vendors to sell their products.

Georgelofi produces a passive preamp and he advocates going direct from DAC to amp bypassing PREAMP. Where's Georgelofi financial gain? In fact, he's offering his honest opinion and potentially hurting sales??

Rustler: Almarg and I have both told you have a great match to go direct, and adding an active pre is going to do nothing but colour the sound and put a hole in your pocket.

This is true only if the signal from DAC is PERFECT and NOT colored. If not, adding a preamp can improve or degrade the original colored signal.

Also spec (a great match) doesn't necessary equates to great sound. Otherwise all components with the same spec will sound the same and from my experience, it doesn't.

Rustler, there's no definitive answer so only way to know is experiment forself.