Passive Pre - No Regrets?

Thanks for all the answers. I did not even know what a TVC was before, so of course I had to do some reading. This issue of electrical compatiblity seems a bit difficiult to grasp. So I throw it out there. The output impedance of my Audio Logic DAC is 225 ohms, the input impedance of my CAT amp is 100 kohms. This is complicated by the fact that the DAC gets plugged into the Merlin BAM bass equalizer which has 40KOhm input and 100 ohm output to the preamplifier. Do these impedances bode well for the use of one of these passives to drive my amplifier? Ultimately, I want to knwo if this will sound better than my CAT SL1 Ultimate, but I guess I won't really know that till I try it.

Pubul57 If you want to get a feel of the passive you can get a Luminous Audio passive, they supposedly calculate the impedance and sell you the passive, it is a shunt passive with a pot to ground, A friend has one and it does let you get the feel of a passive...full resistor loaded is much better, I talked to Guy from Placcete and he told me all his passives come with a 10k impedance, this impedance can work for you, he also changes impedances according to the customers settings. You can buy a placette passive and see if it "fits" your system, Guy will help you out even if the preamp is used (very cool guy!) this way you can be sure you have the passive matcing properly.

Just from what you've told me. The TVC should work just fine with a 100 ohm input. Here's a FAQ's page from Promitheus on how TVCs work. Unlike resistive type passives a TVC will actually lower the output impedance and increase current drive from your source or BAM. Hearing the difference between it and a pot or ladder resistive attenuator is very easy. You get a fuller sound at lower SPLs with a TVC.

I should have a Bent audio unit with Stevens & Billington TX102 trannies in for a comparison within two weeks.

"I should have a Bent audio unit with Stevens & Billington TX102 trannies in for a comparison within two weeks."

Now THAT I want to hear about....;-}

Oz

Hello Gmood1!!
Have you tried a resistive passive vs. a TVC in your system lately? I had a hard time but I finally got the match made and the resistors betters the TVC in my system, Im curious about your findings.

All the Best