Placette, VS First Sound VS Audio Synthesis Passio

I have only had my Placette Passive Linestage for about 2 weeks and I have only good things to say about it. As mentioned transparency is second to none (my inexperienced ear hasn't heard better). The highs are crystal clear in a natural and non-fatiguing way (your ears aren't hurt by distortion) and IMO because of it allows you to listen at higher volumes allowing bass to come through. Is the Placette bass heavy? No. But it is not lacking in bass response. I have to use the word natural/realistic here. When you're listening to good live jazz recordings you won't get room shaking bass if the venue is a big concert hall. However if the venue is small and has wooden floors you'll most likely get much more satisfying bass. Just the nature of it.

$4000 for a passive? I usually don't complain about prices of components, but really, what is used in a passive pre that warrents a $4000 price tag? Loaded stepped attenuators?

The $4000 Placette is active. The $4000 First Sound referred to above is active. Once upon a time, First Sound made passive preamps, but no more.

The cost of the Placette units is directly related to the cost of the many Vishay S-102 resistors in them.

Okay. That's the active pre that Tube Research designed for Presence, though it uses 9 pin tubes, right?

I don't think so. Emmanuel Go is the man at First Sound (Presence is the model), and I'm sure he's done all the design work himself.