The future of preamps

In short do the "Bolero Test" with your source directly connected to the poweramp.
And go with Arthur Salvatore's 2 closing statements:

1/ "In short, if you need an active line stage because your source is not up to the task of driving the amplifier(s), then...
Any good active line stage, from any era, will improve the sonics in some obvious and clear manner"

2/ "Alternatively, if your source is up to the task of driving your amp(s), then...
No active line stage, no matter how good it is, will ever equal the sonics of your direct connection (or an equivalent passive)"

Cheers George

Arthur is a man with opinions like all of us. It is strange all of the products he says are the best of the best are Coincident. Is this just a coincidence for Coincident? Highly unlikely in all honesty folks. At the minimum, it simply reflects his sole experience and preferences. At minimum.

He likes a particular sound from his system as we all do. No right or wrong, just preference. One is not truer to the music then the another as all systems are not true in some way. A preamp less system is still a sound system producing sound from a series of wires, components, parts etc...with a resulting sound. The END result is still compilation of the total system.

Arthur may like it without a preamp and I like it with a preamp. No ultimate right or truer system, just opinion and preference.

I have done the Bolero test numerous times and owned the LSA twice and borrowed it a third time. I have owned the Placette, gone direct with great DAC's, direct from amps and scaled the mountains of passive and direct options. In the end, music sounded more like music with my best in class tube preamp.

No, my music is not more more distorted, less resolving, tone controlled, etc...it merely sounds more like music does and should to me, based on my experiences with music and my preferences.

If a passive, or direct from DAC or amp does this for you, then that is wonderful. It does not mean anything more than that however. No far reaching general conclusion about the state and result of music systems for all of humanity. That conclusion is leaping well beyond the scope of what is reasonable and true.

I agree with Salvatore's two conclusions. We all know the final choice will depend on the specific component under consideration, system compatibility and actually "listening". People who trust their ears will choose which of the two options suit them best, as Salvatore obviously concedes. Try both and the decision won't be difficult once heard, it will be one or the other that ultimately involves you more with your music (you'll know).
Charles,

@ Georgelofi, Hi, I have never used passive preamp produts, so I cannot comment on them, However, I have never heard a active preamp to better a high quality,top sounding source direct connected to a amplifier!, I also agree, If the source can drive the amp to full out-put., there is very few sources that you can match the out-put to the in-put of the amp, an example of what I am saying is this, My amp is 3.58 volts to drive to potentual power, volume to the speakers, A source that out-puts 2.5 volts sounds great, But will not drive the amp to full power, Then on the flip side of useing a preamp, The statement Almarg said quote- "The 32 volts could be 1000 volts and you still would not have a problem". Yes I would!, I do not want a volume control to fully drive my amp on a clock value starting at 6am going to 3pm being the preamps full out-put, and making my amp fully driven at 8am!!!, That is not what I want to do!, I understand the concept of not putting the preamp in a bind for better sound quality, I once had a source back in 1997 that was direct to amp, the out-put volts was 3 volts, Then I had a Krell FPB 200, The in-put sensativity was 2.97,, This was perfect for me, then to top that off, I had some horn speakers that did 101 sensativity, man-o-man was that a great sound, that system was stolen from me by ex-wife when I was out of town!, I told you this because, I fully agree with the #2 statement you provided in your last post!, I also cannot get over the fact that the signal goes thru another circuit board before it gets to the amp!, It's funny how so many preamp makers are doing shortest path available for the signal inside their preamps,LOL!, mmmm, I wonder why?., regardless, I am willing to go and hear what the best available preamps can do these days, I traveled half the u.s.a. before in the late 90s giving seminairs on resonance control tunning and listening to all under the sun cost no object everything!, Preamps have never impressed me, now that so much time has gone by, I will see if they can match source direct connected to amps. cheers George.

Grannyring,
That was probably the most logically expressed post on this often repeated topic as I've ever read. You sum it up accurately as well as beautifully. Folks, go with what sounds best to you.

I didn't know you had experienced the Light speed on three separate occasions. You certainty believe in thorough scrutiny and a fair shake.
Charles,