Is my preamp useless?

have you heard all possible permutations/combinations of amp+preamps that exist in the world? If not, then it is simply YOUR view that actives are always better than passives. Folks have been very happy about TVC preamps, which are considered to be passives.

Of course I have not heard everything. But I did go to school and got taught engineering principles, and if you look at my posts you will see I was careful to be talking about PVCs and not TVCs. So as far as I am concerned, your comment is a strawman, as you are attacking an argument I did not raise.

However we can have that discussion if you like...

I decided to pull my system for privacy and safety concerns I don't want to get into here. I used to have mine posted and had an "issue". Sorry.

Charles, I fully understand your point as you know. Yeah, I am still confident :)

Hi Bill, you had a wonderful system posted on this site, I'm sorry you felt the need to delete it. I have had my system posted for the past 4 years and fortunately have had no issues or problems, I hope that continues to be the case.

I do have the LS attenuator coming for a 4th time and I will try it yet again!

I have a Yamamoto DAC with an output of 3.1volts, three different amps ranging from PP tube, DHT SET tube, and SS monoblocks. Input impedances range from 80kohms to 200K ohms. Amp input sensitivity range from 350mv to 1 volt .My speakers are 92 db effecient and an easy 8 ohms to drive never going below 6 ohms. Simple two way speaker with very few crossover parts.

I will bring a host of ears over for a listen. I am prepared to eat a part of the active pre if not better to all. Perhaps a small part like a resistor!

I do like the LSA as I have owned it twice and tried it three times in various passive friendly systems. Very clean sounding and does everything right. It would be my choice if I could only spend $1,000 or less on a preamp. Quite good indeed.

For all my family listeners and close by Aphiles it was not up to the the musical standard of my active. Why am I trying it a 4th time? Because I am completly astounded and confounded by all the positive press the LSA garners. It beats out $20,000 preamps and the like according to the long thread here on the Gon. I cannot wrap my mind around this as my experiences were quite conclusive three different times with different gear. Yes... all passive friendly.

I am open minded and would love to own a $500 passive that moved me like a $20,000 active. Who could possibly want to spend more just to spend more? Well, ok some would. Not me.

My music room is stocked with gear that will make this comparison fun and interesting yet one more time.