Buffer amp no gain

Thanks noromance. My system is built around simplicity and all the cathode followers I have found have volume controls or, like the ifi, lots of redundant circuitry.

Picture the First Watt B1 with volume controls removed and that is what I would like to buy

https://www.decware.com/newsite/ZROCK.html

You are looking for a unity gain (i.e., voltage in = voltage out) buffer.

There are some tube buffers available such as one made by Tortuga and the two linked already in this thread but, as you pointed out, you do not need or want the volume control. I suspect it would be easy to construct the Pass B1 buffer without a volume control. It appears they still sell the board through the store. I suspect you would replace the VC with the correct value resistor, assuming you will operate it from the output of your current VC. I am not the one to help with that but I suspect it would be easy to do. This article may also be of some help.

@erik_squires You literally just described the reason preamps exist.

Yes, Erik has it right, the pre-amp can amplify the signal, it also attenuates the signal and sends a signal to the amp at the right impedance. I've never seen a top audio system without a preamp (some pretty good ones without but not state of the art systems).

The unity gain "buffer" that I like involves the use of transformers.  I've heard a few and liked how they remove hard and artificial sounding "edginess"  without sounding murky or dynamically dull.  The attached is a discussion of the subject: