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Help with a Passive Preamp

Looking for a Passive preamp and have narrowed it down to 3 - 4 candidates. The Truth with remote, Tortuga Audio LDR300x.V3 Passive, Luminous 

Axiom II Passive Preamp Walker Mod with Remote or maybe the JOB Pre-2? It will be down stream from a Mytek Brooklyn and a Linn LP-12 with a Ruby 3h with a Sutherland 20/20. Downstream is a Pass Xa-25. The Tortuga has the advantage of being able to ad a gain module if necessary. 

I have heard the Truth in my system and it was very good. Your thoughts?


128x128coachpoconnor
patrickdowns's avatar
patrickdowns
486 posts
 
I have been intrigued by the Tortuga Audio passives for a long time. I used to run a highly regarded passive line drive (the name escapes me but I still have it) with my McCormack DNA-1, with CDs as the source.

Here is a good AbSound review: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/tortuga-ldr3v2k-passive-preamplifier
I like the sound of this one too, especially since they offer it with both RCA and XLR ins and outs.

LDR3000x.V3 High Performance Preamp

$1,495.00 – $3,295.00

The LDR3000x.V3 is a flexible high performance, remote controlled, LDR (light dependent resistor) preamp available in 9 different configurations including as a passive, as an active solid state or as an active tube type preamp. Each type can be ordered as single-ended only (3 in | 2 out | RCA), balanced only (3 in | 2 out | XLR) or mixed RCA/XLR (6 in | 4 out). Each configuration can be remote controlled (Apple remote) or controlled from the front panel (rotary encoder) with a high contrast, white-on-black, interactive menu driven OLED display.
grannyring's avatar
grannyring
6,436 posts
 
In your group The Truth is easily the best. 
dsper
657 posts
 
I have an Axiom II with Walker mods and use it occasionally. 

I like the clear presentation that it makes, which reminds me of how I think Audio Research preamps sound to me.

But after a while I find it a bit fatiguing in my system. I reinsert my CJ 17LS2 to obtain the texture and nuance it provides to my setup.

Thanks for listening, 

Dsper
coachpoconnor's avatar
coachpoconnor OP
374 posts
 
Thanks for your comments!
Given the fact that I had the chance to listen to "The Truth" preamp for several hours in my system, kinda of gave it the upper hand. However, all the units that I mentioned seemed to have good reviews.
I guess my final concern is; does my Sutherland 20/20 have enough gain? I'm not a loud listener.
tweak1
3,525 posts
 
I have lusted after the TOL XLR Tortuga except that requires a separate dac and the associated ancillaries= $$$$$. I am quite happy with my Audio Alchemy DDP-1 DAC/PRE+ PS 5, both can be found for ~ $1200 used


I had/loved a Hattor dual mono passive when I was using my Oppo 105 direct outs, but had an impedance mismatch with my then class D amps. I could have had the gain module sent to me (~ $400), but I was not willing to play tech

hth
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