Up to this point my comments have been directed at Passive Volume Controls. I might be able to let you borrow mine for a bit. However, the Lightspeed attenuator is the only design I have run across that renders the attenuator switch irrelevant.īill - if you're interested in checking out an autoformer let me know. Using quality attenuator switches (Seiden, Shallco come to mind) is important in passive designs and influences the sound IMO. with passives, and that is important, let's not forget the role the actual attenuator switch plays. While everyone talks about impedance matching, etc. Since I own both types direct comparisons were easy. After hearing a Lightspeed Attenuator in my system that uses opto-couplers with a resistor I'm not of that opinion any longer. I used to also think that the transformer models were superior to the resistive models. It's not pretty, but sounds great and replaced a Jeff Rowland Capri in my system. I purchased a minimalist version of the Bent using Dave and John's new Slaglemam modules. However, I have to say the autoformers offered by Dave Slagle that are now used in the new Bent Tap-x are superior. I have had an S&B MkI TVC and loved it (replaced a Joule Electra LA-100 MkIII and Cary SLP-98). In response to both yours and Shakey's comments I will say this. What passive do you suggest that is transformer based? On a budget, I think choosing a passive is a no brainer, and for some, even when money is no object. The only answer to this, is for you to try it and draw your own conclusions because you never going to get a defintive, conclusive answer - it really is a matter of going with your ears and deciding for yourself. I can only say that as much as I wanted to love them, because of their simplicity and price, over time, I prefered my CAT, Joule, or Atma-sphere tubed preamps. Ralph knows 10,000x more about this than I do, and I have to believe his position is proabably sound, and it may be that an amp with a built-in passive volume control would provide the best option. One thing I will say, is that every passive I tried offered alot of bang for the buck, they are very good in many ways and hard to beat for the money assuming proper impedance matches, a tube amp is almost always a better choice due to its high input impedance. A real mix of experiences and preferences. are available and users reported lots of good praises about them.Īll of the above are just my opinions base on what I heard of course.Ĭaveat: I own a preamp that uses 76 tubes. As you read more about them, you will notice that proven designs that even use NOS tubes like 10Y, 76, 26, 27, etc. FWIW, there are many circuits floating around for tube preamp designs and maybe you can expand your consideration in building one yourself. I always examine the equipments of the owners reporting the claim and make my conclusion as to what they have or had and build my impression from there.Īs always, system matching is the key but for me given the choices, I will never own a passive preamp anymore. To me, I do not believe that passive preamps strength is clarity, ever! If it is, then I assume that the one reporting never heard a decent to a very good design active preamp especially those with low output impedance and can drive the amp in use better. I mean, why do you have to add a parameter to the whole system equation if you can avoid it. Besides, they are not flexible in terms of what electronics to use and with real world cable lengths applications. Passive preamp to me have that "sleepy" tone and tends to sound "slow" as you increase the volume. I always find them weak in the "attack" department. Be it the high price Silver TVC's from S&B or any other manufacturer etc. In my case, I never heard a passive preamp that impressed me. Rather than going from pass to active, go up a few levels in the same sandbox might be better. One or the other is not preventing you from hearing everything you can hear from your source simply by their methodologies. Well, I think that's a push and all you wind up with very often there is simply 'different'. If you're looking to step up the performance level of your preamp, that's horse of a different color. Quality is quality and always speaks for itself. Pay no attention to the man behind the curtains, you know, that little voice which says "Hey man, You need get another. Here's the deal, unless you've joined the 'flavor of the month' club, and you like what you're getting, keep doing what you are doing. It's the softer easier path.Īs Elizabeth said, ya gotta pay attention with a passive pre and selecting sources is more important a thing. An active preamp also takes all the thought out of matching sources & amps.
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