What is a non-active pre-amp stage?? Are their advantages to this design??

I still think that sometimes it’s worth using active components to overcome the limitations of passive ones

If there are no impedance issues "limitation" as you say, then a passive will sound better, more transparent, better dynamics, and less coloration/distortions. (see Nelsons quote)
And aren’t we searching for the Holly Grail?
Why compromise plus the expense with an active, why not strive to get the passive right? Or better still going direct if it allows it.

Cheers George

sunnyjim
What is a non-active pre-amp stage?? Are their advantages to this design??

jond
non active preamp stage means the preamp stage is passive

You heard of Nelson Pass no doubt (Pass Labs, Threshold ect ect)
This is what he said about passive volume controls, and yes he does make/ designs active preamps after all he is a business man.

Quote from Nelson Pass

We’ve got lots of gain in our electronics. More gain than some of us need or want. At least 10 db more.

Think of it this way: If you are running your volume control down around 9 o’clock, you are actually throwing away signal level so that a subsequent gain stage can make it back up.

Routinely DIYers opt to make themselves a “passive preamp” - just an input selector and a volume control.

What could be better? Hardly any noise or distortion added by these simple passive parts. No feedback, no worrying about what type of capacitors – just musical perfection.

And yet there are guys out there who don’t care for the result. “It sucks the life out of the music”, is a commonly heard refrain (really - I’m being serious here!). Maybe they are reacting psychologically to the need to turn the volume control up compared to an active preamp.

Cheers George