The passive preamps I've tried, lack 'drive', 'dynamics', 'soundstageing'-- relative to active preamps,to such a degree that the music is, by comparison uninteresting to me. To explain...
I'll never forget the first, at the time I experienced what I considered a great preamp, the conrad johnson Premier 3. It had such terrific tonal shadings, low level resolution, adding to soundstage placement--as well as bass drive. Even the dryness/richness of the double reeded instruments on large orchestral works, came through with such a visceral sense.
Then lets come forward in time to the Gryphon L1 (I believe was the model number) circa 1991--possessing two rather heavyweight outboard power supplies, one per chanel--a true dual mono unit. That remarkable beautiful and musically superior preamp(at that time) the very best control over amps that I had ever heard. It was so remarkable, that I could pair it, with the really inexpensive $595 Adcom GFA-555 and shock audiophiles out of their chairs. It was truly remarkable piece.
The point of noticing this is that the passives were the antithisis of this kind of potential.
If I can, I'll finish by saying that, if music were a canvas, a painting, a great preamp makes the work, a Monet, full of life and shadings and wonderful vivid colors--with passives being, to me, the polar opposite, a rather mundanely done water color--washed out, lacking that snap and pop of reality and excitement.
As always, I haven't hear everything, someone may very well have had a much difference experience.
Good listening to all.
This is a great question BTW.
Larry
