Passive preamp vs. powered

Very interesting thread. My experience with highly regarded passive preamps vs great tubed active has always been the same.

The passive ones seem to sound more transparent, fast and detailed. After longer listening and comparisons one resounding thing became clear to me time and time again.

The perceived greater detail etc... of the passsive was actually the absence of body, texture and weight.

Threadbare sound can often seem more transparent at first, but in the end the passives lacked the meat of a great tube preamp.

It's a relative thing to be sure.Some passives have meat, body and texture, however not as much as a great tubed active preamp.

In the end the passives I've tried over the years simply lacked the meaty,earthy and substantial weight/authority of an active.

But, this is key. I don't like a thin, fast and detailed sound. I'll give up detail for natural musicality.

So my opinion does not mean actives sound better for all - just to me and what I like my music to sound like.

>All passive models I have listened to have been a disappointment ultimately<

Jallen I would be willing to bet you have never heard a passive device using autoformers or transformers. Maybe Grannyring hasn't either. In an appropriate system one of these types of linestages can whip the pants off far more expensive active preamps. At least that has been my experience.

Shakey

Amandarae,

"I always examine the equipments of the owners reporting the claim and make my conclusion as to what they have or had and build my impression from there."

Here are some active preamps I have owned (in no particular order):

AI Modulus 3A
CJ Premier 17LS
Lamm LL2
GNSC modded Audio Research SP9 II
Art Audio VPS DM
Gill Audio Alana
Cary SLP-98
Dehavilland Ultraverve II

Do you think any of those would qualify as "decent to a very good design active preamp "?

Shakey

Shakey,

Yes they are good and I haved owned several of them and several much better then those you listed - active.

I have owned passives from TRL, BV Audio and Placette.

Your sound preference may lean to the passive route. Great for you! Others will want a different sound, like myself.

Fun for all!

Granny,

Yes, you are right. It's all about what makes YOU happy.

However, I have heard passives such as the Placette, the FT Audio LW-1, Mccormack Line Drive and Reference Line Preemineence 2. None of those can hold a candle to the transformer variety. A completely different animal.

Shakey