[Bret L]

We often forget that except for the phono section, the real function
of a preamp is not amplification per se. Any correctly designed tuner,
tape deck, DAC, CD player, or what have you has plenty of signal to
directly drive a power amplifier. Instead it is to serve as a
switching nexus and a level control, plus those functions so necessary
but derided by purists like tone control.

This leads us to the "passive preamp". This is in basic concept a
great idea. It fails because it is in the middle of a bunch of cables
that otherwise need to be as short and direct as possible. Even so
under the right circumstances it works pretty well.

The real solution is a change in thinking. Each unit of signal (a
"component" is a resistor, a capacitor or something like that) should
possess its own volume control and perhaps some type of switch
architecture. Alternatively, there is the "integrated amplifier" which
is no more than a power amplifier with a volume control (which many
"power amplifiers" have anyway, cf.McIntosh ) and a selector switch
for multiple inputs.

This change in thinking is occurring at a nonexistent pace, i.e, not
at all.