Is no preamp really better that a good preamp?

For most of us who are untrained in electronics, we just go by what has been posted previously in this thread :

"Well, it's all very simple then.
1. Start with no preamp in the chain.
2. Then add preamp.
3. If adding preamp makes the sound better, keep it.
4. If adding preamp makes the sound worse, remove it.
Preamp or no preamp brigades become superfluous very quickly here."

Clio9,
I believe you have experienced a TVC before. I did read the review about the Bespoke TVC in Stereophile this month. If anything, I think it was a waste - giving the TVC to a reviewer who already has a biase against "passives". I got a $4k preamp home to see what I am missing against my TVC. And to my surprise, I found my TVC superior to the active preamp. I am sure you are aware that TVC will work only with a matching system. You cannot have an amp/source/speakers that are low in sensitivity.
I will sure seek out to other active preamps in future, when I get a chance, but I agree that the lesser the "electronics" in the chain, the lesser the distortion of the original music. Some folks will opt for color over originality.

"Some folks will opt for color over originality."
Not so - not PM or a whole lot of many others. It all boils down to whether there is an improvement in the listening experience.

Fully agree with Almarg :-
"Of course, depending on the specific designs introducing a preamp between the DAC and the power amp could either resolve such a problem, introduce such a problem, or make no difference."

Can we thank Almarg for finding that interesting bit of information?, yes we can. It is good to know that a preamp still has its uses. Some of you have been corrected, don't need to mention names but you are forgiven.

I also will stand corrected that an active preamp may help if, the source (dac/cdp) has a power-supply problem in it's analogue stage(as PM states) not by just adding colouration, or as I have mentioned it's output stage/impedance and output voltage is not up to the task.

For myself if we have this kind of source with these types of problems that has a VC, I can't think of it being hi-end or been designed right, better to me to change it, mod it for something that is.
How can an audiophile live with his/her source knowing the analogue power-supply stage is not doing it's job (as PM states)

PM... Imagine we have a DAC with an identical output circuit to that of a preamplifier. How would this respond driving a power amplifier directly? Theoretically as well as a preamp and, perhaps, better because we haven’t another component in the mix. But here’s something you may not have thought about.

DACs are significantly more sensitive to power supply changes and noises than preamps. When an output stage struggles to drive a complex load, it is the power supply feeding its output stage that sees these changes. If this occurs in a preamp, it has little effect. But that same situation, when applied to a DAC, has very different results indeed. Small changes in power supplies have big impacts on sound quality–especially jitter.

So this is one reason, and there are more, some preamps can help a DAC.PM

Cheers George