Preamps. Do we really need them?

If you're willing to try a cheap experiment buy the Luminous Audio AXIOM passive pre for $125. It has only one set of inputs and one set of outputs. The Antique Soundlabs T1 DT I have sounded a bit muddy in comparison.

Tim will ask you to supply him with the output voltage and output impedance of your DAC or other source and the input impedance of your amp in order to configure a unit which will have the least matching problems.

An experiment like this will help you determine whether you need any preamp at all. Me? I prefer having a tube preamp because of what it adds.

Good luck!

Tweakaudio.com manufactures two models of the Ultimate Attenuators for either tube or transistor amplifiers. They attach directly onto the amp RCA input jacks so no interconnect needed. Ric Schultz is the designer. Thirty day trial offered on these custom made pairs, with $350 list price. On my systems these allowed excellent sound upgrade for either tube or transistor amps. If you check the archived Audiogon comments from myself and other Ultimate Attenuator fans then you will surely be intrigued. You need a really enjoyable amp since you get to hear all it is doing for the first time.

There is no such thing as a completely neutral preamp. They all add and/or subtract something from the signal. If we assume that your amplifier has high enough sensitivity and high enough input impedance to be driven by a passive then that is the most accurate source period!! BUT, since digital needs help to sound good who in the hell wants to listen to an accurate portrayal of a digital source? My personal opinion is that the colorations of tube gear make the sound of digital more musical and listenable and yes I have compared countless solid state & tube units against passive control. If you want the most accurate portrayal of the recording go passive. If you want your system to sound more musical-more pleasant-more or less of whatever you want then choose your coloration generator(preamp)to satisfy your personal taste. I recommend TUBES.

I've heard some really good passive systems and some really unimpressive ones. Preampless(?) rigs require very carefull attention to system synergy. Going without a pre-amp is harder, but, can work very well indeed.

It's up to you. I just just started using a Musical Fidelity 3.2 preamp after running the EVS attenuators for over a year. I found that I was missing a lot. The sound is much more open deep,and detailed.

Tim