The timing of the discussion couldn't be better for me ,
I've been using a Goldpoint passive preamp for years , 2 inputs one for my Carver SD/A 490t CD player and one for my phono preamp .
The CD player sounds FANTASTIC with the passive pa , it was the reason I explored a passive preamp because it had a volume control and I would connect directly to the amp , a McCormack DNA-250 .
The problem was the "volume control " , I've learned that I like the sound of a stepped resistor over an Alps .
Now my problem , when using a SS SimAudio Moon 110P phono preamp there was less bass than when using the CD player
( having a CD and record playing and switching back and forth ),
but not less enough to drive me crazy .
Now I have a Tavish Design Adagio and have been tube rolling trying to get the bass gain increased because it is less than the SS .
Yesterday I installed my old Carver CT-7 preamp and boom I had bass to compare with the CD player But being old and with a cheap volume control I lost a lot of detail .
I am back to using the Passive
and looking into a newer used active Preamp .
So if I only had a CD player like lilchris9 then a passive would be my nirvana , but adding the phono preamp complicates things a bit .
I've been using a Goldpoint passive preamp for years , 2 inputs one for my Carver SD/A 490t CD player and one for my phono preamp .
The CD player sounds FANTASTIC with the passive pa , it was the reason I explored a passive preamp because it had a volume control and I would connect directly to the amp , a McCormack DNA-250 .
The problem was the "volume control " , I've learned that I like the sound of a stepped resistor over an Alps .
Now my problem , when using a SS SimAudio Moon 110P phono preamp there was less bass than when using the CD player
( having a CD and record playing and switching back and forth ),
but not less enough to drive me crazy .
Now I have a Tavish Design Adagio and have been tube rolling trying to get the bass gain increased because it is less than the SS .
Yesterday I installed my old Carver CT-7 preamp and boom I had bass to compare with the CD player But being old and with a cheap volume control I lost a lot of detail .
I am back to using the Passive
and looking into a newer used active Preamp .
So if I only had a CD player like lilchris9 then a passive would be my nirvana , but adding the phono preamp complicates things a bit .