Passive Pre - No Regrets?

One of the more important functions of a line section is control of the interconnect. That is why you see so many posts on this thread preferring the (allegedly) more colored sound of various preamps over passives. Passives cannot control interconnects, so their sound changes (coloration) depending on the setting of the volume control.

Once you've heard what this is about its hard to keep using passives. They just don't work, unless the volume control is located at the input of the amp itself. This can be really inconvenient if you have monoblocks!

In an ideal world, the interconnect is always neutral as the line section completely controls it. In the real world, this is more closely achieved by balanced line stage operation. But any line section that has a low enough output impedance will drive a single-ended cable quite well- this is how 50 ohm cable for video can work.

I'd think twice about selling off a good Line section in favor of a passive! If you really do like it better, it suggests to me that there is a bad synergy elsewhere in the system that the passive is compensating.

Good Luck!

Thank you Atmasphere. I think this will prove to an interesting experiment for me. Of course if I prefer the Placette>CAT to the CAT>CAT I imagine (hope) that it will not be due to bad synergy. Does your view suggest that an integrated amplifier approach with a passive preamplfier section might by interesting. If you get the advantage of the quietness and transparency (theoretical advantage of straight wire) of a passive with and internal, interconnect-free connection to the amplfier section, with perfect designed impedance matches - would that work in theory, or is it a matter of tradeoffs at that point?

Pubul57

The passive does not need to be better than the active...it only needs to be "as good", ($$$) saved.

Of course, only (you and your ear) will give you that answer.

Dave

Mr. Sphere, So if the volume control is connected to the first stage of an amp by a few inches of wire that is OK, but if it is connected by a few feet then that is bad? I don't buy it. The difference in impedance of 3 feet of wire vs. 3 inches of wire is negligible.

Maybe, and that is a big maybe, at the very lowest volume settings it will come into play, but if you are operating down there most of the time then the system has too much gain to begin with.

And even though I'm sure you are a stand up guy, and many people here know that you are a mnaufacturer of active, balanced preamps, it should be disclosed so your advice can be properly evaluated. I'm sure if Mr. Placette answered this question we would get a completely different response.

I traded my Cat mk2 with a pair of scott endler attenuators running direct to my tube monos with the attenuators on the front of the interconnects instead of the end in to the monos.
The sound and detail was just immense compared with the Cat, although not in every position on the attenuators. This setup was very anoying to opperate with a second source, hade to be switched with the Interconnects, you get the point.Now I use a Sonic Euphoria TVC and get about 95% of the package with the convenience to tave a Remote Control . I do not regrett that I
sold the Cat, because I got my Money back I had into it.I would like to try those silver rocks from switzerland ,because I believe in having nothing or the least in between any component connection with the highest quality o parts.To you I suggest to buy a used TVC and try yourself ,You can always resale if your setup dosn't improve maybe without a loss.