Who is using passive preamps and why?

You all are making this appear much too complicated. I've plugged my TVC into a few friends systems and always had impressive and consistent results. I've changed amps and sources. I currently have a far from ideal load with long IC's, a 10K Zin hi-pass and parallel low-pass/bass amp. A mismatch seems to be the exception I haven't run across and I've seen some unexpected active component or amp/speaker mismatches.

I have played with a couple DIY attenuators but not as a system volume control. One was for a biamp system to control gain and the other replaced a pot in an active preamp. Probably dissuaded by the negative reviews. The TVC was a fairly cheap experiment that I didn't expect to work and, if I had believed some of the "experts", shouldn't work. There's a story but I would rather not mention names. It was a DIY project and it even worked well when I had it wired wrong. That's another story, not for A'gon.

Many of the RVC/attenuators have had a fairly low 10K Zin but, recently, there are more options for higher impedance up to 100K.

Yes, Goldpoint seems to offer a range of Zin ratings, but have no idea how that effects the Zout or what would optimal for a 100kohm load. I like the "idea" of an RVC, it just seems a lot of less complicated with less wire and iron that the transformer approach. Where is Aball when you need him?

Just bought an Goldpoint SA1 25kohm volume control. Proabably a more direct assessment than talk. Phd, see what you started:)

Pubul57, you have done an excellent job of explaining the technical aspects of this subject and I as well as others have learned a great deal as a result. Given that, you now have my permission to go home and get some sleep! But I expect you to report back first thing in the morning, I don't pay time & half. In the mean time if we have any problems I will call on Herman to police this thread, as he may still may be angry.

no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no,

I'm not angry.

Passionate? ok

Tired of seeing people declare absolutes in a world with so many variables? ok

After so many years on these forums tired of seeing the same things debated over and over and over? ok

But I'm not angry. Amused perhaps after seeing the same preposterous statements repeated over and over (like passives are wimpy) but perhaps frustrated would be a better choice as it frustrates me that there are people like Phd who come here to learn and they get responses about passives that are so far off base that they are worthless at best and at worst scare the uninitiated away from a topology that could be the answer to their quest.

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