Placette pre amp

I'm the passive folk too but there are certain conditions must meet before you'll get into no-preamp listening. Most of SET and Triode amps have a low sensitivity and will loose a great deal of dynamics when coupled directly with the source. There is one more condition but usually it's the only consearn for solid states which is impedance compatibility. There are a few technical differences that I want to describe as a former engineer:

Triode amps need in average 4...5x higher input voltage than tetrode push-pulls due to a lower gain. If insufficient voltage is applied to the input(lower than offset) the triode enters non-linear operation and will operate with the great deal of distortions(especislly on low volumes)

Tetrodes have their characteristics more linear and usualy more sencitive amplification components. On most of tetrode operated amps the input voltage of .4 volts is enough to drive them. If the specs say that input sencitivity of the tetrode amp is 1.2V and you will drive it with just .4volts on input most-likely you will just loose the rated power of the amplifier with remaining linear non-distorion operation.

To my experience SET and Triode amps should be best driven with 20dB gain amps not excluding the solid state(MOSFET) or hybrid designs.

Creek OBH12 is indeed a nice product for the price and can be a great addition to any non-remote preamp.

Thanks for the input, it's actually been very helpful, especially Marakanetz. I will probably buy the Legend pre and get the Creek OBH 12 or the Placette for the remote volume. I was also thinking about getting the Hovland pre, but will have to look into that further. Thanks again for the input.

I hope you rethink that - Drubin has got it right in my opinion.

I will contact Placette and talk to them about my system and see what they have to say. If I can try it and return it if I don't like it I don't have anything to lose, so will be contacting them shortly. Thanks

i have the placette volume control with cary audio 805C monobloc sound great, before i have a Hovland100-pre