I agree with that. However, after several preamps over the last couple of years......I have gone back to using a Denon 3805 as a pre-pro.
To use the Denon by iself for two-channel listening.......fatiguing, stale and edgy sounding to my ears.
Using the Denon as a preamp with seperate power amps.......the Denon is very clean, even high-end sounding. The same criticisms apply.....good recordings like music dvd's, concerts and certain cd's sound flawless. Bad recordings sound bad.....really bad.