2. amps-preamps
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Who is using passive preamps and why?

Seldom has there been any discussions on passive preamps in the forums and although my experience with them has been limited I have found them so far to be very enjoyable and refreshingly different. They seem to fall into their own category, somewhere between solid state and tube. Finding a preamp that is satisfing has been difficult. Some active solid state preamps can be very good but they seem to inject grain to some degree in the upper registers and some tube preamps are not too far behind. So far I think they should at least be matched up with an amp that has sufficient gain which is often overlooked. Which passives are you using and with what amp? Why do you like them?
phd
clio09
2,978 posts
 
Almarg: The higher the output impedance of the source component, the greater the losses that would result from that transformer impedance.

While I only quoted part of your response Al, Jack did mention DC resistance and sound degradation, particularly in the bass the higher the output impedance of the source. The PVA is really designed for opamp driven sources and when I asked if I could use my 600 ohm Zout Otari tape deck with the PVA I was told that I would get some bass distortion and potentially other losses due to the mismatch.

With my Kenwood KT-8300 tuner and digital set-up the sound is fine.
clio09
2,978 posts
 
It has been a long time since I read Stereophile, but Sam's Corner in the February issue has a write up of the old Halcyon PVA and the Lightspeed Attenuator that I own. The article prompted me to put the Lightspeed back in my system for a whirl. I'm not regretting it. This opto coupler designed passive is truly remarkable. As usual careful system matching applies. I believe minimum amp Zin is 50k ohms and high sensitivity is best. Here is some additional information for anyone interested:

Lightspeed Attenuator

Single input/single output only. I have a version with dual attenuators. One of the designers comments is that this type of design removes the sonic effect of the switch from the equation.
pubul57
3,712 posts
 
just ordered one from george.
phd OP
1,008 posts
 
I want to try the lightspeed Attenuator as well. Pubul57, how much does it go for?
pubul57
3,712 posts
 
$450 shipped from Australia; it takes two weeks or so before shipping. I get the feeling the Stereophile review is making him busy. It will be interesting to compare with the Goldpoint and then I'll sell one or the other. Either way, these passives are a really "inexpensive" way into some pretty darn good sound. I don't know if I will like them better than my Joule or Atma-sphere preamp, it just may be different, but worth having in the mix.
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