Are passive preamps better?


Does a passive preamp with transformers so that its impedence can be matched with an amplifier have the potential to provide better sonics than a line preamp? I have a Simaudio Celeste preamp and a Harman Kardon Citation 7.1 amplifier. Lynne
arnettpartners
Pubul57, Thanks. I'll check it out. If I spent that much I would have to never tell anyone. Lynne
01-07-08: Arnettpartners
Pubul57, Thanks. I'll check it out. If I spent that much I would have to never tell anyone. Lynne

That's part of being in this hobby Lynne..........we take our secrets to the grave...... :)

Cheers,
John
Yeah. Cool. And I don't know how much of the hobby is having a good system and how much is having good knowledge. That's part of the fun, too. Lynne
Hi Arnettpartners, When doing a passive preamp the type and quality of the attenuators are critical, You may want to check out Goldpoint at http://www.goldpt.com/ for some info and their products. Even if you dont go for a passive preamp it is good to change all potentiometers in any of your equipment to stepped attenuator types for much improved channel balance and clarity.
Bob
OK, Bob. Thanks. Last night I searched Placette under discussion forums. One member said that a passive preamp needs 40 k ohms input impedence from amp. That might help explain why some people are happy and some are not with passive preamps and goes to Eldhartford's rremarks on many amps going into clipping. So I might not be going passive but I will check out the attenuators. Lynne