I am a huge fan of passive preamps but in this case I feel you would be best served not to make that trade, and I am not a big fan of Audio Research equipment. I am assuming by the price you mentioned that this is the Serious Stereo series type model (not the ladder type), but regardless both are pretty far down my list of passive preamps that I have listened to over the years. I would say based on a cursory look at the specs for your amp a passive preamp would match up nicely (you do have to consider the source in the equation as well) and you should consider trying one, just not this one.
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For a passive, I don't think that would be worth anywhere near $2200. It's just a couple of stepped attenuators using larger "through hole" resistors. It doesn't even have anything special, such as signal transformers like other exotic passive preamps. Definitely not worth a trade for a LS7 linestage - you're, essentially, getting screwed on this trade if you do it. If you really want to see what a passive does, try a Gold Point SA4 ($532), or an SA2X-I if you want balanced XLR passive ($616). If you really want to go on the cheap, Shiit SYS for $49. |
rocky1313 Even though passives are my game, I don’t believe ANY active preamp can better a "properly used" passive for transparency, dynamics, uncoloured sound and extension in both the highs and lows. Saying that though your AR LS7 is "worth" far more to sell than any passive is (except for one) worth, regardless of which one. The one I’m talking about is the $20k D’artZeel NHB-18NS as it also uses the same LED/LDR passive system as the one I make does. Cheers George |
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If you happen to own a system that necessitates an active linestage, then no, a passive will not do the job. However, I make sure any system I put together does not need one. If a source component or amplifier doesn't make the grade, I won't consider it. And I certainly am a fan of very high efficiency speakers that work well in this environment also. If your system is passive friendly, an active preamp is only going to color the sound further. Now if this coloration is pleasant to you, you are golden. But I am of the mind that you are fixing something upstream that you don't like. Oz |
Some months back I went passive, and found I was fortunate that my gear ( sources and amp ) were very passive capable. I had a tube pre and a ss pre, both of very high standards and recognized in the audio community for being excellent ( which I will not name ). I will tell you that in my situation, I can never go back to an active pre ( in this particular system. What I am hearing from my sources is less colored, more detailed, and truer to the recordings. I am getting plenty of dynamics ( a very important characteristic to my listening ), and greater PRaT. Enjoy ! MrD. |
mrdecibel Some months back I went passive, and found I was fortunate that my gear ( sources and amp ) were very passive capable. I had a tube pre and a ss pre, both of very high standards and recognized in the audio community for being excellent ( which I will not name ) ...If you won't identify the equipment you've used, the value of your observations are greatly diminished. The reader has no context from which to evaluate your opinion. I've never understood those who post in a public forum, and then play "I've Got a Secret" with the details. What's the point? |
ozzy62+1 ozzy62 I don’t believe ANY active preamp can better a "properly used" passive for transparency, dynamics, uncoloured sound and extension in both the highs and lows. Unless you need to purposely colour the sound with the coloration's that all active preamps give. Just read what rob67 with friends and family said in a 4 way shootout in a very expensive hiend system, when comparing a passive pre to these three active preamps. Audio Reasearch Ref5se preamp Pass Labs X2.5 preamp Bryston BP20 preamp https://forum.audiogon.com/posts/1623297 https://forum.audiogon.com/posts/1623299 Cheers George |
I don’t believe ANY active preamp can better a "properly used" passive for transparency, dynamics, uncoloured sound and extension in both the highs and lows. Unless you need to purposely colour the sound with the coloration's that all active preamps give. I've seen a number of active preamps be wider bandwidth and more neutral than the ones on this very short list! All that is says when a passive can beat these is just that and nothing more. A more meaningful list would have over 100 preamps, all pitched against what is considered one of the best passives, with the results agreed upon by a much larger cross section of audiophiles, in a variety of systems. |
As I have said before, a passive preamp can be a tool, but it really depends on your source/DAC and your amplifier. If you have a DAC that is very fast and solid-state sounding, I think a passive is not really the right tool as you need an active preamp in the middle to help smooth and shape those hard-edged waveforms. If you have a full Class A or tube DAC/source, then a passive could work well. |
