Passive Preamps

Yup, so far I like my Promitheus ref 4 better then any active I've had. Ludimagis makes a good point -- passive by nature doesn't add any gain so you'll need a cd player or source with enough voltage to essentially feed through to your amp.

Things you will likely notice: more transparency and air.
Things you may also notice: less body and weight.

Also make sure that the input impedance of your amp is sufficient, probably at least 50k ohms. More is better, tube amps usually pair well with impedance.

Lastly there is a buttload of info on this..search and ye shall find

It is good to note that passives come in different flavors. I am not a technical expert in this, but a transformer volume control - TVC - I understand will generally work better and in more instances then just a resistive attenuated volume control in both impedance matching and for a fuller sound.

As I've said, with my TVC I don't lack any dynamics -- everything is as 'colorful' as it was with the few active pre's I've had, with the added benefit of more transparency and air between sounds. Bass is low and tight, highs are extended and detailed. Soundstage is better defined.

Another option is an active/passive pre in the same unit. Wyred 4 Sound, Placette and others make such pieces.

One more point I would like to add is that in case of TVC the amp's input sensitivity is VERY important. With a TVC, the input sensitivity of a power amp better be below 1.5V.

Why is this? Is it because of the TVC volt-to-current conversion from the source? ie an amp with lower input sensitivity means it's easier to drive to full output power? apologize for the laymans terms. What would a 1.5v or higher amp input sensitivity equate to sonically?

PM sent

Wow. A vote by a member for another member for another member. That carries some weight. By the Kevin Bacon theory I'm now 1 against 3.

Tholt, not necessarily.

Lrsky votes for an active preamp. I give props to Lrsky's recommendations.

Yet, I own a passive preamp (SMc Audio VRE-1).
Tvad (Threads | Answers)

My point was that Phaelon advocated your opinion, which was advocating Lrsky's opinion. It had nothing to do with what you yourself owned or even personally thought on the matter.

10-10-09: Tvad
Tholt, my point was that you are not necessarily 1 against 3. I think Lrsky
knows what he's talking about when it comes to audio, yet I don't presently
subscribe to his general recommendation of an active preamp over a passive
preamp, and I was using my situation to explain why this is so.

I thought my post was supportive of your use of a passive, but perhaps I
misunderstood something in your string of posts.

No worries. The real (and only) point was related to Phaelon citing you agreeing with Lrsky in a completely different thread to back up his own agreement with him here. Which struck me as funny.