What are your sources. It is a high gain amp. I would recommend you read up on the STA 200, as well as the JOB 225 ( both designed using a Goldmund circuit, which Goldmund has been upgrading ( perfecting ) for 15 or so years, licensed out to Job and Nuforce ( now Nuprime ). Check out the reviews, as they are very useful pertaining to your question. Many users and reviewers recommend a passive unit ( the circuit was designed to be driven from a Dac ), as I am going from Dac, to passive, to amp, but many folks are using a preamp. Some have added a passive volume control between the preamp and amp, to get wider adjustments of their preamp's volume control. Hope this helps. Enjoy ! MrD.
