Passive Pre - No Regrets?

"In the world of high end audio, the idea is to get away from tone controls so as to get to the truth of the matter."

OK let's look at from another perspective. Since it's the goal of high end to get away from tone controls.. This will leave a lot of members here in the dust. Essentially every component is a tone control. All the way done to the tubes used in a selected piece of gear. How will we ever get away from tone controls? When every piece of gear is basically a tone control? No matter how High End you go...there will always be those darn tone controls.

Ken Stevens, the designer and manufacturer of CAT equipment, once told me that a parts manufacturer (I think they were resistors)asked him what "flavor" of sound he wanted from the resistors (warm, bass-oriented, etc.). That is, these parts could be used as "tone controls" - Ken's answer was I want the flavor of water. The sales reps was a bit confused, but I think Ken's goal and Ralph's goal seem similar - "get away from tone controls so as to get to the truth of the matter". Which gets back to the passive/active debate - can an active line stage ever get as close to the "truth" as a passive (minimal flavor, clear as water) implemented in a properly matched "system". I still think that the active approach is probably necessary for some of the reasons mentioned by Ralph and the need to actually sell this equipment into a variety of listening envrionments and matching equipment.

Mr.Sphere true this is a audio site, hopefully for all not just what's considered High end because it cost a certain price. Maybe we're thinking the same thing just from different perspectives.

I like absolute transparency not at the expense of being musical. I want to hear every change in the system. When I change tubes in equipment,cables,dacs,etc.. I want to hear it. I have achieved this without breaking the bank.

Every system has a flavor to it from the mixing of the components. Changing one piece will change this flavor.
I personally find it far fetched that any componenet doesn't have a flavor. If there wasn't a flavor for each component, we would all listen too and like the same equipment. I haven't heard a capacitor that sounded the same as another. I haven't played with them all..but quite a few. The same with tubes..come on..I know you have a favorite type tube for your equipment... most designers do. Give up the goods!LOL

Just look at the post here on the GON and what people ask for. It's not the sound of water I can guarantee that.

Maybe we should start another discussion. I like keeping you busy. ;-)

All the Best

Pubul57, I understand where your coming from. I like the preamp to be as you describe.I can add my flavor in other parts of the chain.Even guys that won't admit it have a flavor they prefer.Whether SS or Tubes or anything in between.

Good listening