Placette, VS First Sound VS Audio Synthesis Passio


I'm looking for a very pure & simple passive preamp, 1IP, 1OP. Anyone do an A/B demo on these. I talked to Placette Audio and still don't understand how his unit functions. From researching I gather that an L-Pad design using only Vishey Resistors(inc grnd)is the way to go. There only would be 2 resistors in the signal path at all times no matter where the dial is....no relays..etc in the signal path. I believe Audio Synthisis uses this as well as the original First Sound reference II signature mono unit with vishay R which I never seen.

Will a remote add coloration as well as muting etc.
weaudiocables
The $4000 Placette is active. The $4000 First Sound referred to above is active. Once upon a time, First Sound made passive preamps, but no more.

The cost of the Placette units is directly related to the cost of the many Vishay S-102 resistors in them.
Okay. That's the active pre that Tube Research designed for Presence, though it uses 9 pin tubes, right?
I don't think so. Emmanuel Go is the man at First Sound (Presence is the model), and I'm sure he's done all the design work himself.
Emmanual did not design the circuit. Paul Weitzel of Tube Research Labs did back in the mid 1990's.