Best Line Stage Preamp?

The Placette active line stage would be nice. But along those same lines, I would not discount the Pass Labs X-1 nor the Chapter Audio Preface preamps.

I've owned all of these and are all top runners in their solid state price categories.

I've demo'ed the Ayre K3-x in my home a few years ago and was not very impressed. It could have had to do with it's built-in 'Ayre conditioners' that may have affected the colorations and resolution.

-IMO

Gregm, to better qualify my statements about the Ayre k3-x.

I should note that I was unaware at the time that Ayre puts multiple 'Ayre Conditioners' strategically throughout the frequency spectrum.

Since I was unaware of this, I was using my Foundation Research LC-1 passive in-line power conditioner attached to the Ayre.

It's usually a big no-no to double up on line conditioners of different manufacturers anyway.

That could explain some of the coloration and suck out in the midrange. But I'm not certain why it was not that resolving unless it is the same reason.

-IMO

I am curious and I'm not looking for confrontation here. As I've never listened to a passive pre and althought I hear from others is that the transparency is usually quite good, the dynamics are most always weak at best.

In fact, as I recall, I believe Guy Hammel, owner of Placette, claims that the majority of his active linestage customers are current/previous owners of his passive pre's.

I'd be interested to hear what others have to say about the macro-dynamics associated with these passive pre's.

Especially when one claims it's all about the music.

-IMO