Passive Preamp Recommendations?

Take a look at Tortuga Audio and the passive they have come up with. All the reviews rave about it. I bought a board recently to start a DYI project to try it out.

I use what is in effect, a clone of the MFA Baby Reference, built by a Hungarian gentleman. It uses the same transformers as the Baby Reference. It feeds into the ARC reference 75 Power amp and is very impressive. I got the idea from a HiFi+ review of the ARC 75 with an ARC LS27. The reviewer had a baby reference to hand and felt the Pre's were different not better than each other, the passive more air and refinement and the LS27 more slam.

I briefly heard my new 75 with the dealers Reference 3 pre, when it was delivered. Too short a period for proper comparison, but I agree with the HiFi+ reviewer and prefer my Pre. It cost by the way, £950, which is less than the current price of the S&B transfomers, so all in all a good deal.

I have a re-capped Conrad Johnson Premier 140 amp. I use the KT120 tubes and have a nice Amperex in the 6922 position. I have been driving it with an Airtight ACT3 ($7550) I have tried all sorts of tube from Brent Jesse. In finally landed on a great Amperex in the 12AX7 position and Mazda in the 12AU7 slot. I though I was done. Very clean, balanced, totally non fatiguing. I was very happy. Then a friend mailed me a Khozmo passive preamp. The thing new cost about $500. Outside of the volume pot clunking around when you turn it, I just cant match the presentation with my Airtight. Turn on Behind Blue Eyes by the Who, and the vocals + guitar make you want to cry. It is so fine, airy and full of tone. This may be in part that I know really realize what a wonderful amp my CJ is. Bass, it is all there for me. Much more clear and tight. Even when I put the Teefunken and RCA back in I could not get the clarity. Also, when I first plugged the Khozmo in, I though it did not work. There was absolutely no hiss coming from my tweeters. Black. That is until I turned the volume and music came forth. If you have a nice tube amp, you don't need an active pre. It just adds more tubes and headache. I have not attempted to sell my Airtight yet. I am going to try some other passive. I just don't like my volume clunking all over. Plus I am thinking remote might be nice, so Tortuga? Anyhow, don't discard the idea of passive. If you have a nice tube amp, give it a try.