yes Preamp stageing of signal is essential. The sound is not yet amplified, but it is closest to the optimum point before amplification whereby it is least suseptable to pick up stray noise. this is usually a root mean square value to not exceed 2VDC and be not less than 250mV, usually having a matching load of anywhere from a still quite sensitive signal having about 40 Ohms and as high as 500 Ohms, and over 1K load at low level for shittier (sorry, I meant to say lower quality) equipment.