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Best Sounding Passive Preamp

What is the best sounding inexpensive passive preamp? I may have to send my preamp in for repair which could take a while and I don't want to be without music. My top priority is sound, but I don't want to spent a lot of money as I will be putting my preamp back in system upon return. Help please.
slowhand
fiddler
581 posts
 
Lightspeed Attenuator - do a little homework. You won't regret it.

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=80194&perpage=25&pagenumber=1
brucemax
6 posts
 
Bent Audio and Placette make two of the best at reasonable cost.
pubul57
3,712 posts
 
I have owned a few passives: Bent AVC, K&K with S&B102, Placette RVC, and Goldpoint. All were bettered by the Lightspeed Attenuator - but all were first-rate and the tranformer and autoformer units are much easier to match with amps and cables. I also hear the First Watt B1 at RMAF and the system sounded quite good, but not my system or room so that is just a tentative observation; but how many things by Nelson Pass don't sound good?
jedinite24's avatar
jedinite24
1,503 posts
 
For me it is the McCormack TLC-1 stock or Deluxe. To me they look and sound great. I especially like the feel of the controls of either preamp.
pubul57
3,712 posts
 
At one time, the Reference Line passives were thought to be among the very best, any experience with their gear versus the TVCs and AVCs that have come to market since then?
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