Are passive preamps better?

I'm not saying this happened, but my experience with Pass Amps is that they tend to be less than ideal matches for most tube preamps because of their typically low input impedance. This would tend to lessen the output at the bass and treble regions, which is the same thing as saying that it might tend to push the midrange forward, which seems to be what you heard. You SB3 experience seems really interesting, that might be a good next experiment. The hard drive storage "transport" idea is starting to intrigue me. I bet you like the LS26, alot.

Thanks, Pipedream, for info. It probably is the hard drive, but my sister and brother have the latest H/K 75W AVR's, and that sound is also amazing as Dpac996 describes. I don't know if I'm upgrading to stay ahead of them or just to keep up. The latest stuff is sounding awfully good. Lynne

I found that I had an IC about a ft shorter than I was using. So I tried going direct to amp again. With shorter IC I lost the distrtion components that were present with the longer IC. I also discovered that the CD player's volume control is motorized for remote. I cite a very small knob and poor lighting to diminish my embarrassment and proclaim the volume control to be a high quality pot--better than the one on the Celeste. This set-up is significantly better than with preamp, I can tell even though the IC needs some break-in time.
Pubul57, Why does an amp with a low imput impedence affect the frequency response by increasing the mid's? Why doesn't it simply drive the pre into distortion?
I infer from John's comments that age is not such an issue with tubes as with SS. You can simply upgrade tubes and capacitors.
Endler has my money but haven't heard a word.
Lynne

Low input impedance with high output impedance from the pramplifier reduces the output in the base and trebles, they roll off. As a result the mids seem to be pushed forward since the balance of the sound is altered from top to bottom. Typically, as a rule of thumb, the input impedance should be at least 10x the output impedance. With the AI3, I think you would need at least a 20kohm input impedance for balanced sound across the spectrum.

Well I wasn't really saying that age is more of a factor for SS gear than for tube gear. What I was saying is that the the asking price of used gear does not reflect how old an item is. In other words, it's not strictly a case of the cheaper an item is the older it is. Used prices tend to reflect whether an older component has reached 'classic' status vs. just getting old.

Certainly their are 'classic' SS pieces too, like Threshold SA-1 amps, Mark Levinson ML-2 amps, Classe DR-9 amps these units are SS and have reached 'classic' status, thereby holding very good resale value even though they are 20 years old.

Cheers,
John