Are passive preamps better?

I've always wondered, when discussing passive pre-amps, with and withoput transformers, what is the effect of a passive pre-amp without transformers, which has a varible output impedence from 50K ohms to near 0 ohms at max volume rotation, a point where it should be, for all pratical purposes invisible to amp? How does the sources output interact with the passive pre in relationship to the passives output, or does it? I've never understood any of this. Is it meaningful at all?

Does a passive with transformers present a constant output impedence to the amp? Is it affected by the sources impedence?

Or are these just meaningless questions?

John, you're right. The Placette active is my goal. I need to hear a stepped attenuator. I don't have any. Newbee asks much better questions. Lynne

I guess the simplest answer is "yes and no". I commit heresy in that I use a Joule Electra LA150 pre-amp with a Placette Passive between it and power amp. Get superb results, I could detect no difference with the Placette in the circuit.

Why not try a pair of Endler or EVS attenuators. These are stepped attenuators that include custom RCA jacks. One end is male and plugs into the RCA inputs on your amp. The other end is female and is where you will connect the output cables of your source. This should give you a good idea of how a resistor based passive device will sound and they are relatively inexpensive to try. I believe one or both brands may come with a trial period, so you can return them if you don't like them.

I personally prefer transformer volume controls as for the most part they avoid the impedance matching issues of resistor based passives. I've been using a custom built unit using S&B transformers for a while now with excellent results.

Hi Arnett, You should give Arn Roatcap at Goldpoint a call if you are looking for some good info on passive preamps and stepped attenuators. I have spoken to him several times and he was quite helpful and great to deal with. The attenuators he sells are quite nice you would be very happy with the quality. I have the newer SMD and the older ladder type with Vishay resistors. I will at some point change the potentiometers in my Marchand bassis with them, I have stepped attenuators in my Marchand crossover. So dont forget, even if you don't use a passive preamp you still need to talk to Arn if your preamp does not use quality stepped attenuators, No Pots.

Just remember your system does need to be "set up" for passives to work, There are several parameters to think about and to address properly before passives can obtain synergy with your system. Only then can you make an informed decision on them.
Bob.