Passive Pre - No Regrets?

Jsadurni,

1. What is the output voltage and impedence of your sources? 2. What is the input sensitivity and impedence of your amps?
3. What type of interconnects are you using?

Darkmoebius:

Source EAD 7000 III DAC
Output voltage 2V
output impedance 50 ohms

Amps Leak TL12.1
Input sensitivity
148mV r.m.s. input gave 12 watts output at 1,000 c/s.
Input impedance 1 meg ohm

Perfect for a passive?

Speakers are 94 db sensitivity

Jsadurni, you should be fine with a passive..just make sure the next one is a TVC not the PLC with autoformers. I watch movies with my TVC..no shortage in dynamics.Also from what I've read the PLC with autoformers doesn't electrically isolate input from output like a TVC. This means you'll have less noise filtered with the PLC. Give it another go..before you throw in the towel.

Good luck

"Also from what I've read the PLC with autoformers doesn't electrically isolate input from output like a TVC. This means you'll have less noise filtered with the PLC."

In theory then, that would be a good thing.

FWIW, the task of the volume control is *not* to filter noise! I would suspect that there are other reasons for a preference.

"FWIW, the task of the volume control is *not* to filter noise! I would suspect that there are other reasons for a preference."

Yes I agree, I suppose it is how one looks at it. I'm not designer like yourself,but don't you use something inside your equipment to filter noise or keep it to a minimum? Capacitors or something? If you did then your amplifiers or preamps would also do the job of lowering the noise floor..correct? This wouldn't be any different from a TVC having the same ability would it?

Having preferences is fine..I wouldn't have it any other way. I'm thinking seriously of buying a tube amplifier to run with the TVC when the moment strikes. One day I may want to mix it up a bit. It is always good to have different types of gear to swap out, when you want to hear music in another light.