Help: my phono preamp is blowing away my linestage

Consider trading the Io for the Janus (preamp w/phono).

Since you have a great phono stage, how about a Supratek line stage only. New should right about on target to your budget. Used you would be able to stay under if you can fine one used.

"...but I've heard that passives are much less dynamic than active preamps..."

Where do these strange "rumors" come from? Preamp manufacturers??

The absolute BEST, ANY preamp can do, is leave the signal unadulterated, while only acting as a "wire with gain".

I owned several "big gun" ($8 - $10k) preamps before finally going with a passive preamp with my BAT P10 phono stage. It was BY FAR much more transparent, with NO loss of dynamics or "headroom".

Patrick, if your looking for the purest, cleanest signal possible (unless you can afford a $10k preamp) at least TRY a passive pre with your set up.

The only possible downside will be one of gain (as in not enough of) depending on the cartridge and phono stage output used.

Good luck!

Patrick, the P/LD-2000 has been discontinued, but you still see them pop up here on A-gon now and then. They are quite a bargain. I doubt that their current offerings are as good.

Hi denf: not from preamp manufacturers (so far as I'm aware!) but from discussions here and at AA. It seems that many people try out a good passive like the Bent, initially like it, and then switch to an active such as an Audion.

My understanding is that synergy is particularly important for passives - source output impedance, amp input impedance, cable length and other variables - perhaps this is why some people are down on them. But I do sense a consensus that passives inject incredible transparency into the system, which initially pleases new adopters, but over the long term subtract a certain drive or PRAT from the music.

The Placette would drive me crazy because I demand a manual rotary volume control, by the way...

Patrick