Merlin super bam How to connect.

Bobby, if someone were stupid enough to experiment with a passive preamp (me), would you expect the BAM to perform best between Source and Passive, or between passive and Amp. There is no issue of amp sensitivity, amp input impedance, or, with short Cardas GR, cable capacitance. I'll still have the Joule LA150 MKII Signature, and the Atma-sphere MP3, so I haven't gone native.

paul, with your cables i would probably prefer between the source and passive. hoping that the gr cables relax the sound a bit. that is where i would start but of course, trying it both ways. let me know on this one please?
does the passive sound a little choked in comparison to the tube pres?
best, b

Bobby,

Thanks for the clarification and correction. I agree, listening both ways is the only way to go. Trust you ear.

Paul,

I lived with two versions of LA-100 as well as LA 150 with my MR Rm9. (loved that amp. Never should have sold it. RAM Labs El34 Siemens were magic in that circuit) I'm curious, What passive could possibly sound better? What could cause you to go native :-)

Jim

Jim, if you liked the RM9, you should here the RM9 Special Edition of which Roger only built 16, they are point-to-point, and it uses six [6] 6bq7s for the driver stage. I'm using the Siemens, and it puts out 162 watts into 8ohms and 200 into 4ohms - right, it actually increase power into lower impedance - not your typical tube amp. With all that power and the Merlin's sensitivity, I "light load" with four ohm tap on the amp which reduces power by 20%, but improve linearity, lowers distortion, and increases current on tap, it also runs the tubes alot easier. -Given, that, the RM10MK II at 1/5th the price is no slouch, believe me and it works wonderfully with the Merlins.

As for the passive, I have been vacilating between Bobby's view (he knows his gear) and Roger Modjeski who is a committed proponent of passive (resitor-based at that)to the point I think he believes the debate about active versus passive is silly, but that is what this hobby is all about, different strokes for different folks.

I going to give the Goldpoint a long audition, I would to be happy with something essentially trouble free, off the grid, and consistent. For my taste, the Joule and Atma-sphere preamps are about as good as actives as I have found, the Atma with Atma, and Joule with RM9s and RM10s. It maybe that at the end of the day, passives just won't do it for me, but for $312 I'm willing to listen:)