This is a great question that I am actually facing too. As I have narrowed my system down to a single source (vinyl playback), I will be selling my active linestage quite soon. The only pre-amplification I will be left with, after that sale, is my EAR 834p.
Do I sell it and go for a phono stage with an integrated volume control?
Do I keep it and run it into a passive volume control?
Do I use a step up, take it out of MC mode, mod it, and then run it into a passive volume control?
It looks like Bent audio has some wonderful options, but I cant help but thinking that I should try out the Placette volume control too. Fortunately I have some time for some of these decisions because my new turntable is still being built (a Garrard 301 w/ Dobbins plinth), but all will be here soon enough. BTW, the rest of my system is an EAR 861 amp into Quad ESL 57 speakers.
If you go with the Bent gear and the 834P combo, please update this thread with your findings. Good luck.
Do I sell it and go for a phono stage with an integrated volume control?
Do I keep it and run it into a passive volume control?
Do I use a step up, take it out of MC mode, mod it, and then run it into a passive volume control?
It looks like Bent audio has some wonderful options, but I cant help but thinking that I should try out the Placette volume control too. Fortunately I have some time for some of these decisions because my new turntable is still being built (a Garrard 301 w/ Dobbins plinth), but all will be here soon enough. BTW, the rest of my system is an EAR 861 amp into Quad ESL 57 speakers.
If you go with the Bent gear and the 834P combo, please update this thread with your findings. Good luck.