Poll - Active vs. Passive preamp

Voltage does not seem to be the issue with passives (I always got plenty of volume), but current, the ability to drive low impedance and thereby maintain bass drive and dynamics. A buffer seems to address that issue. So is there any justifcation at all for gain other than to step phoni signals? If not, are we not better off without gain devices in our preamps if buffered to handle impedance matching? You may be right though, there may be colorations that are appealing with every active providing some flavor or favourably sounding distortions to the source signal - and nothing wrong with that [?].

Some systems require gain, some don't. Below unity gain, active and passive, are both an attenuator?

Other features aside, and if you only require attenuation of the signal....you have nothing to "gain" by spending a lot more money for an active preamp.

Dave

There are already a few active/passive threads here on the 'gon. But I think this is the only poll so far...

In my system I have speakers that are 97 db. Depending on the material that I play, I would not have a hope of having enough gain without an active line section (MP-1 Mk.III), at least not if I want to play the final act of Wagner's Götterdämmerung at anything near the right volume!

That is undoubtedly true with vinyl, but why would that be true with a 3V digital source? Now the active argument seems to be volume, but I get plenty of volume with passives, though not ideal with the M-60s with their sensitivty. But assume a 1V sensitivity on the amp (like my other amp)and a 3V digital source (like my Accustic Arts)why would any gain be of any benefit? Now the need for active buffering is another issue, and I assume it always helps to make the load easy and consistent for the source through the cables to the amp. Why pay for gain? And isn't any gain device less perfect than straight wire to the buffer?

Pubul57, if you don't need the gain then that is all there is to that and I would not add any more!

There is a classic set of tradeoffs between gain, bandwidth and distortion. The rule is that you don't get all three. We traded off distortion for less gain in our amps so it takes a bit more to drive them. At least in the case of our preamps, that makes for only 4 stages of gain total between the phono cartridge and the loudspeaker.

I prefer a lower output in digital gear as the analog section will have less gain and should sound better, all other things being equal...