Have Passive Preamps Finally Come of Age?


Back in the late 90s (eons ago) I tried a variety of passive preamps (PPs). The most musical was an autoformer, but back then my system was not balanced. For the last decade I have been using active preamps, both tube and solid state, but finding a quality balanced preamp under $4K is damn near impossible. Enter the Parasound P5 (2.1), which in addition to having balanced I/Os, it has a separate bass management circuit (MSRP $1095), and I was hoping it would provide better control over the built in class D plates incorporated into my 2 SVS powered subs, whose volume controls are STUPIDLY sensitive: when barely cracked from zero they overwhelm. Alas, no bueno. 

Recently i watched a PS Audio YT video that was emphatic about NOT connecting powered subs with interconnects; instead he recommends speaker cables piggybacked off the main systems amp/s. I had a spare set of DIY flat copper cables, and was shocked how much better they sounded, but doing so did not change the  volume control problem and unfortunately this id not bypass the SVS amps whose class D chips are now ancient. Thinking there could be an impedance problem led me to revisit PPs.

I sold my P5 and was using the XLR outs from my Oppo 105 (upgraded power supply and IEC/wiring to the power supply) direct to my Emerald Physics 100.2SEs (class D). The noise floor dropped tremendously, allowing me a much better view into the music. My Core Power Technologies 1800 PLC had more than a little to do with this, but...  

Days of PP research later, I came across LDRs, which seem like the ultimate PP option, but XLR versions are ~ $2K and up, with the Tortuga coming in at $2700, seems like a true SOTA bargain, just not in my current budget. Scouring the' for sale' sites I came across a Hattor XLR (MSRP $995) which was in my price range. Hattor's www had links to 2 reviews both were extremely positive: one used it in combination with a class D amp. Bingo! I snapped it up.

It arrived late yesterday, although Hattor's www pictures look awesome, they do not compare to seeing and touching it. The metal carrying case was an indication of the designer's dedication. This is an etremely well made piece of kit, but how does it sound? Alas it came with no manual and Hattor's site does not have a PDF. How hard can it be to hook up? Well, after a couple scary minutes, I discovered that it would not light up until I connected the 105. 

Stone cold, the first thing that shocked me was a further reduction in noise floor and an incredibly wide and deep sound stage, but as can be expected, it was dry. Fingers crossed, in about a half hour I began to be rewarded with texture as well. Tis only got better as the night wore on

I hope somebody chimes in with their Tortuga experience, or any other high quality PP information.that goes under the reporting radar. 
tweak1
@tweak1 

using active or passive PP is definitely a personal choice basis on own sensibility and perceptions. Anyway PP should be simple, minimalist, few components but highly selected, maching and quality, good pcb, psu, connectors, knobs, selectors... if possible non condensers into the routing of music. As said in other forum, “PP, like a good steward, shall just manage the inputs and main volume, normalize in and out impedances and gain between inputs, nothing else, bringing the music “as it is” from source to the amplifier “. In this philosophy PP should be reasonably expensive but not exaggerating being more expensive than a more complex source or amplifier... all the rest are reclame and business for peoples abusing of our enthusiasm. I prefer active PP because never should be lack of “food” to the amplifier, especially when sound is so dinamic. Have a pleasant sound session, regards 

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Luminous Audio makes a great passive preamp. Perhaps the best value in audio. 
With almost a week in use, and a wide variety of favorite music spun, the biggest issue I have is that it is doing it's job too well. In part, due to the lack of overdesign, and quality resistors, it ruthlessly exposes when recordings are subpar.

Examples of well known artists: Dixie Chicks, John Denver, CSN, Dr John, all contain some excellent recordings as well as some really horrible ones. How can that be?

 Interesting coincidence, Paul McGowan posted a PP YT video yesterday
Impedance mismatching is a problem that will leave an otherwise great passive preamp sounding less than it should. Why I did not see anyone here mention the Luminous Audio Axiom?  When you they want to know several things about what you listen with, so the passive preamp can have its impedance matched to your particular system. 

I have mine on order as I type...https://luminousaudio.com/collections/axiom-ii-passive-preamp