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Passive Preamps: Jumping Ship

I have been using passive preamps in my system for about 2 years, Reference Line, Mod Squad, EVS. On a whim, I bought a Klimo Merlin Preamp here on Audiogon a week ago. I dont know if its "synergy" the Siemens 6922 Gold Pins I put in, the power cord, or the what, but I am smarting at what ive been missing for the past 2 years. The Klimo has more weight, precence, more depth, better bass, and sounded more "real". The only area which the passives bettered the Klimo is transparency.

I am amazed and pleased and may have finally reached where I have searching to be for the last 12 years in Audio reprodcution.
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sean
6,231 posts
 
Good for you Derek. I know that you've made more than your fair share of purchases trying to get there : )

I tried a few different passives and always thought that the signal lacked warmth, body, dynamics, slam, etc... Sure, the midrange was "see through" but the rest of it just did not draw me in. It was if the music itself had become "passive" and no longer "actively" interested me. I guess that's why they say that audio systems truly are "personal preference" and "synergy" based... Sean
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garys
65 posts
 
Oh how I've wanted passive preamps to sound better than active preamps in my system, especially when I had a sweet tube preamp that unfortunately used up tubes. I've stuck with the actives for exactly the reasons you mention.
jms's avatar
jms
4 posts
 
I have always wondered why some listeners like passive preamps. I never understood the significance of these since they offered no sonic benefits that I could detect. Glad other listeners are hearing the difference that a good active preamp offers
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