Who is using passive preamps and why?

Herman, maybe you can answer this, under what circumstances would you expect a resistor based passive to perform better than an AVC or TVC. I know they address some issues of impedance matching, but they also add alot of "stuff" between the source and amp. What is your opinion. Roger Modjeski tried explaining it to me (he prefers resistors and no buffering) but I could not understand him after two minutes into his explanation.

From a measurement standpoint resistors should beat transformers, but an awful lot of people claim they like the sound of the transformers better. My opinion is either one can sound very, very good if properly implemented and this is one of those issues where it comes down to personal preferences.

I tried a Placette in a system before I was biamping and it sucked the life out of it. I talked them into building me one that had an input impedance of 100K instead the stock 9K and it sounded wonderful. I compared it to some Slagle transformer units and to tell the truth couldn't say say which I really preferred, leaning a bit to the transformers but they were both very good. Now that I biamp I don't use a preamp as I control the volume via digital processing in Pure Vinyl software.

I know, not much help but at this point I think you need to try both and see which you prefer.

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It did help. I ordered a 50 kohm resistor passive from Goldpoint. I do think that 9kohm (I did have a Placette too)wa a bit problematic, but I was not A/Bing with a TVC at the time. But I did have the Placette Active (buffer, no gain)and it was signifncantly better in the bass - but that might simply have been an issue with the 9kohm Zin. Well, I'll have it to listen to soon enough. Thanks.

I am using a DIY ALPS 10k passive to feed an Audio Research VT50 and a Powered Sub. The IC's to both amps are low capacitance. This has resulted in a very spacious lifelike and tonally neutral sound with all the dynamics I need.

To summarize some of the posts here and in addition to other aspects I have learned I didn't know before that there are two kinds of passives, resistor and transformer based. Argubly folks swear by both designs and the use of passives require more attention to the proper selection of associated gear and cabling. But once set up properly the results can produce a dynamic but superb sound.

I fell into this not knowing alot about passives but in my particular case the guess work was somewhat taken out by pairing a McCormack TLC-1 to a McCormack amp which has a high input impedance and was obviously designed to accomodate passives. Coupled with highly efficient speakers to the tune of 102db produced a very dynamic, smooth, and spacious sound. I can reach sound levels that challenges actives. It is my opinion that I have not heard a solid state active preamp that compares. The only other type of preamp that I would ever consider as an equal would be a tube preamp but I am leaning more towards the passive because I can leave it powered up all the time and is ready when I am plus it sounds damn good. I will eventually have Smc upgrade my TLC-1 and DNA Deluxe amp or possibly try other passives like the VRE-1.