[magnmac]

I have been out of the loop audio knowledge-wise for a while, (assuming I had any to begin with), but I recall 10 years ago I heard some of the integrated pre-amps in a few CD players, such as Linn's and Levinson's 390, and although many claimed "in theory" it should sound better, I found, along with most others, that there was a clear improvement adding a pre-amp into the signal chain.

Are the DAC's any better these days as pre-amps? Has anybody replaced their pre-amp with the stage in their DAC with no sonic degradation?