I played around with the variable connection out of the Levisnon 39 and passive preamps. To really get the max out of your speakers (especially if they are dynamic speakers) you will always need a good active preamp for the dynamics and soundstage. Also, good power cords like the maganan reference and whale elite add to it. That's a whole other forum discussion. There are no short cuts at this level in hi-end audio.
Do I really need a preamp?
I am considering another preamp to go with my CJ 2200. Am thinking about a CJ pre to go with it. However since my main source for listening is a cd player which has variable output, why do I need a good preamp. I have an Adcom GTP 450 tuner/preamp which will do the job for radio, tapes, etc. That said, how can I run cd and pre into the amp? As always, your help is appreciated.