Who is using passive preamps and why?

Herman, My previous statement "If you want to select components, speakers and wire around a volume control it's ok with me. I prefer the sound of an active preamp because it sounds like music".

And this is why there is a variety of equipment for sale.

I knew someone would come up with an amplifier manufacturer that makes a passive preamp. That's why I threw it out there and I'm not surprised it's Modjeski.

I did infact buy an amplifier with a passive gain control and it was the best amplifier I ever heard and still is. When Kron developed the Vaic tube he wasn't getting the results he expected, so, he went to a little amplifier builder in Italy called Mastersound to build and amp around the Vaic tube. The amplifier was named after the founder of that company, Caesar, and uses the 32V output tube. This amplifier makes all other amplifiers sound ordinary.

I also own a Manley Stingray which uses a similar design, but these amplifiers were designed this way.

Yes, many approaches to finding sound we like individually, why I will proabaly keep my Joule and Atma-sphere preamps, no matter how much I might like the Goldpoint - they will sound different, none like the real thing, but all enjoyabkle in their own right. Not only does Modjeski prefer passives, but has said the debate is really silly as he thinks the superiority of passives is clear. In sense he might be right, but obviously, many of us still prefer what actives do. Passives are so relatively cheap ($312 for my Goldpoint)that it seems to make sense to have one on hand to play with, and in case a tube or transistors blows in our actives. As for Modjeski, don't him going on power cords....

The manual for the RM-10 has a nice discourse on cable voodoo, not to mention ground loop hum.

I'm going to finish building my passive today. Sanded down, drilled all holes, and painted the chassis yesterday. Today its plugging in parts and wiring. Hopefully by tonight I'll have a new passive to try out.

Anthony, I may have missed it, are you building a resistor attentuator? With balanced connections?

Paul,

Transformer based using Electra Print nickel core copper wound transformers. I was going to do balanced, but single ended for now until its fully tested (just easier to start). If all goes well I may build some more and sell a few here and there.