Do I really need a preamp?

I had a Wadia 850 running straight to a BAT VK60 amp. It was awesome...until I tried a BAT vk50se preamp. For the money, the Wadia direct couldn't be touched. But, the BAT preamp too was a huge upgrade. IMHO, a preamp is a must when funds allow it...

OK boys and girls, you,ve made a believer out of me. Actually I thought I knew the answer already but wanted to check with others before making a final descision. I had tried both ways but a faulty cable had caused some intermintent problems that were hard to track down. I have decided to go for the Conrad Johnson PFR pre. My wife is so impressed with the CJ MF2200 that she has almost given me the green light. Life is good!

my experience has been that an excellent (tubed?) preamp basically levels the playing field when considering any cd player up to $3k (or more?) my $500 nad 5-disc *changer* is competitive w/the likes of the $3k audio resolution cd-50/55, & $1800 alchemist cd player. added benefits of a great pre are realized w/winyl & tuna as well. get an excellent pre, and a cheapie cd-player, & wait until there is tons-o-software for the winner of the next-generation format what/when ever it's decided.

ymmv, doug

ps - perhaps a decent cd-player run straight-in to a great toob-amp mite take the edge off the digital...

Welborne Labs informs me that their steps are 2 db, which I think are unfortunately large. Every commercial stepped attenuator I know of uses steps that large, presumably to be able to fit in with a wide range of power amps and sources. But each system needs only a small part of the huge range of attenuation allowed--literally from zero to infinite--and I would strongly recommend (1) getting a kit, so you can choose your own step size, which I'd make 1 db, (2) find out how much attenuation your system needs by rigging up a crude fixed attenuation network with female RCA connectors and resistors, no chassis needed, and (3) get your own resistors (which could be interspersed with some of the ones supplied with the kit). Don't know how to work out their values? The basic equation: attenuation = 20 log Rs/(Rs + Rg), where Rs is the series resistor and Rg is the resistor to ground.