Newbie Question: Why do you need a PreAmp?

Preamp originally served several purposes, it was for having multiple sources, and for the Phono section, and to have tone controls and a tape loop.
Once the Phono section, and the tone controls were dropped the preamp was mostly a glorified source selector switch/volume control.
If you only have one source, and it has a volume control, the preamp is not needed.
(One issue is some sources do not 'drive' some amplifiers well... They wind up sounding 'thin'
If this is not the case for your combo, go for it.

Elizabeth,

If my 'volume sources' sound thin, and I decide to send them through my analog preamp, is there a possiblity that I could damage my preamp? I've heard that you should never plug a variable output into your analog preamp inputs: you’ll kill the preamp by overloading it’s sensitive preamp inputs. Is this true? I think I would also have the problem of double volume, right?

Thanks!

Jason

?? Your 'source' would have standard and variable outputs.
Use the standard ones from the source Cd player for the preamp. Every Cd player etc that I have ever seen that has variable outputs ALSO has standard line level outputs.
And the output from a line source like a CD player would not hurt your pre whether you used the varied volume controlled output, or the line level fixed output.
(I would guess you are talking about someone putting the output of one preamp or receiver into the input of another preamp... That certainly could overload the second ones input section!

I also run direct to my amp with a Resolution Audio Opus 21 CD player. I used to have a Krell KRC-3 preamp. This is a very good preamp, and it did add depth and perhaps a little 'authority' to the sound. However, it clouded the sound just a bit and I am one who likes to hear things crystal clear. I did like some of the things that the preamp did and thus am still casually looking for a preamp like, perhaps the Ayre k1 to insert into the chain

Jason,

If the music sounds "thin"(not enough bass resolution) you'll want to add extra negative feedback and there you interface with active analogue preamp: The lower gain preamps have deeper negative feedback and "thicker" sound.