Are passive preamps better?

Perhaps I do not understand what is meant by dynamics. My passive preamp/Atmasphere setup seems to have great dynamics to me.

By dymamics is it the range from high to low and speed in shifting from point to point in that range?

Or is it something else?

Entrope, yes, you are correct. I don't really know whether anyone has ever measured this, so it is really a personal judgment or a comparative judgment. I find that I grow bored with the music using a passive, that I find myself not shaking my foot in time with the music, and that is just lacks the leading edge of the music.

FYI - the Placette "Active" (which is a zero gain pre with a buffer)has an output impedance of 10ohms or so and will "match" with any amp input impedance and, I'm told, almost any length cable. Of course, I think it is selling for $7000 now. Some may argue it is not a passive, but it has no gain stages which is a primary reason for the quiet and transparent quality of most passives.

Pubul57, I did try the Placette "Active" briefly and did like it better than the totally passive unit. I also thought there were better active line stages.

I should say that I certainly have heard active units that were worse than the passives, the Crown 150IC and several others come to mind. The top passives that I have had are the Audio Consulting Silver Rock and the Top Dog, which is no longer made.

Thanks to absolutely everyone for the discussion. I don't know when I've learned so much about audio. I'll bet it's true that receivers and integrateds have no active preamp. That's how they sound. All of you filled a big hole in my audio experience. A lot of things came together as a result. Cheers. Lynne