This is for Georgehifi especially but others can chime in.

@georgehifi  i will take a flyer on the Freya and see. You are a gentleman, sir. Sorry about my poor grammar in the post. Voice texting.

I guess it’s a matter of opinion but i have run a Exogal Comet Dac into Parasound JC-1s and felt it was a little leaner than with a preamp. Would this be the same thing? @

Maybe you should call it cleaner. It is certainly more accurate because if the preamp does change the signal, by definition that is degradation.

Maybe you should call it cleaner. It is certainly more accurate because if the preamp does change the signal, by definition that is degradation.

The problem (as has been discussed a lot elsewhere) is that a passive control is highly susceptible to cable issues while an active system is far less so. In addition, the control often acts to reduce the efficacy of the output coupling capacitor of the source (if it has one). This can result in reduction of bass impact as you turn the control down.

An active system can be completely immune to the effects of the interconnect cable, allowing the result to be more neutral.

That depends a lot on the construction of the line stage of course. Being aware of this fact, we designed our balanced line stages to be quite impervious to the interconnect cable(s) they drive; for this reason we often advise the customer that an expensive cable is not always needed.

Audition is important!

Parasound JC-1s and felt it was a little leaner than with a preamp. Would this be the same thing?

Any active preamp will impart it’s own colouration on the source, and they all sound so different, that’s why so many chop and change these looking for the right colouration that suits them.

I say let the source be heard for what it is, without any added colourations with a transparent passive preamp, and if you then don’t like it change the source, as the source is where it all starts, and not to add another colouration with an active preamp trying to fix it.

Remember a very good 70’s saying from Ivor Tiefenbrun (Linn Sondek fame)
"First get the source right and your 1/3 of the way there, if you don’t it’s a never ending battle to get the truth"

Cheers George