Pass Labs X2.5 - vs. - Placette Active Preamps

I think my less than wonderful experience with the Placette active had to do with the fact that this preamp has no gain.

As a result, the dynamics and bass were squashed and I believe that is what led to the overall unbalanced and rather lifeless and lean presentation.

But the highs were to die for and if there were a way for Placette to maintain the overall balance (to match the highs), it truly could be the best preamp going.

-IMO

The Plactte Active (I owned one of the very few fully balanced versions) is truely one of the best preamps I have ever heard (It may be the best, but I do not have enough expereience comparing it to every unit on the planet to make that claim). It is better then the passive in every way. I will admit it probably does take some system matching. It is as transparent as they come, or at least as transparent as have heard. I did not have the issues with dynamics that others seem to have had. If I did not have a built in pre-amp in the DCC2, I would probably go back to the placette active. I hope that helps

I know this is all system dependent. My Pla. passive is more dynamic than my First Sound delux.

I am surprised anyone had problems with dynamics using the active Placette. Stehno, Guy told me he can build in some gain if you need it.

That surprises me as well since most of us don’t use gain with normal listening. I believe the majority of us are attenuating the signals. I know that my amp is putting out maximum wattage at 1.8 Volts. If I were to put out the 2 volts from CD into my amp it would clip. That would be well over 400 watts into a pair of Vandersteen 3A Signatures. Not good.

I believe the Placette units are very good as well. So far I’ve had no need for gain from my pre. I hope this continues to be the case in the future.

Dre