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Passive Preamps

I'm curious about passive preamps. Has anyone tried a passive preamp in their system?
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warjarrett
66 posts
 
My listening experience is that passive preamps that use a potentiometer lose dynamics, bass quality, and HF extension in most systems. But, transformer based preamps are excellent, particularly the Music First Audio preamp, which uses Stevens & Billington transformers. MFA must be contacted directly in the UK for sales to the USA, at this time, but they do offer refund for any unsatisfied buyer.
xonex77
42 posts
 
If you're a purist audiophile this is the to go.Unaltered signal and very transparent.
milpai's avatar
milpai
1,341 posts
 
xonex77,
Did you experience one recently? Curious because you revived an old thread. TVCs ROCK!!
david12
1,398 posts
 

I tried out several Passives over a weekend and was very surprised
how different they were. For some reason, I thought being passive would make them sound similar, no way at all. It was two years ago, so I can not remember the brands, but the Music First Audio Baby Reference was way ahead of the other three. Very clean and neutral, with as good detail retrieval as I've heard. Yes even this expensive unit lacked the last ounce of dynamics, but what was there was still very good.

A version two of the Baby Reference is out, so the original should be a bit cheaper, if you can find one. A passive is one unit I would buy second hand. It won't last for ever, but it should be pretty indestructible.
 

stringreen's avatar
stringreen
5,112 posts
 
never did anything for my system.
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