Is no preamp really better that a good preamp?

George,
I agree with you that one should "....look at the problem area and changing to or modding the component that causing it, not by adding another one into the signal path chain to gloss it over."

Take my problem for instance. My Esoteric K-01 can sound a bit cool but other than this problem alone, everything else in my system chain I find highly satisfactory. Since I like the overall sound of the K-01 and my system, and do not wish to change any component for big financial reasons, finding a preamp that warms things up a bit to neutral, is just what I need to fix this problem. One may consider this an acceptable solution. It's all about system synergy. It's like an audio reviewer describing the sound of a component under review and then advising what other component to match it with, be it source, amp, speakers, cables, etc.

Cheers! J.

"finding a preamp that warms things up a bit to neutral, is just what I need to fix this problem."

You have hi-end components, and I think that's going to cost big time and a lot of A/Bing preamps just to warm the sound over and maybe loose transparency and detail in the process.

Better off trying to warm it up in other ways that are cheaper, like changing any silver cable/s for OFC Copper ones or change and sell the component that has the "cool" sound to a warmer sounding one. Your pocket will thank you.

Cheers George

Most of us need a preamp for various reasons - multiple sources, balance control, phase control. So, one needs to choose a preamp that synergises with the source. To change the K-01 entirely is not something my pocket will be thankful for.
We must have read endless reviews about a cool/warm source component and the reviewer will say, "Matching this with a warm/cool preamp is advisable. Preamp ABC with this source XYZ is truly a match made in audio heaven."
So, we try to mate preamp ABC or equivalent with the source. Either that or, we change the source altogether. The latter simply cannot be a fiscally reasonable option.

Cheers! J.

We (audiophiles) all try to get the very best possible sound that blows us away, then it's a shame that some of us have to compromise it because we need to change sources and are not up to just to unplug and change them.

This why I have a dedicated system with the least compromises in my hifi room, and another one in a TV room for all the other stuff/crap like surround sound, tuner, internet streaming ect.

Oh and I suppose your may have read this post about the K-01 which is Delta Sigma vs his older Reimyo R2R Ladder Multibit dac, which all the very best are starting to use again because this way of conversion it is said to give a better presentation of real music, the owner also missed the warmth of his Reimyo when he changed to the K-01

[url]http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?ddgtl&1358613368&&&/Unsatisfied-with-Esoteric-K-01:-Alternat[/url]

So that's two of you with the same beef about the K-01, wouldn't it be better to fix the problem rather than just putting a very expensive band-aid on it, and causing maybe other problems.

Cheers George

That a component is cool or warm may not really be a problem in itself. It is designed that way and some audiophiles may like it as is. To match it with a synergistic component is an art for the audiophile to nuture in this hobby. And that's just what we try to do everyday instead of changing components right after just buying them new.
Cheers! J.