Modern Linestages

George,that would imply that the source passes the signal perfectly, I don`t believe that`s the case. The source itself may be incapable of preserving/passing the signal as well as a premium quality active linestage(just because source to amp is direct does`nt mean the signal is transmitted "fully" intact) Again it really is ultimately determined by the final sound result. No matter how you state your pro passive opinion, as I`ve said before I know what sounds best to me. We`ll just have to respectfully disagree.

No that implies that a correctly implemented passive will be true to the source, just like a direct source to poweramp connection is the best you can get.
It's up to you to get the best source you can. Then if you have to spend $15,000 -$35,000 on an active preamp to change the sound of the source, then you are colouring/distorting what the source gives, and all you are doing is an expensive bandaid fix of the source.

Cheers George

Atmasphere, we want to see a $35k preamp from you. And $70k power amps. Can you do it? And retubing of either should not cost less than $5k, preferably more.

A preamp is often times the one component that brings a total system together and just makes it sing. Active or passive, a preamp is just one part of a stereo system intended to create music.

True to the source means true to the first link in the stereo system chain - the digital front end for instance. All front ends are flawed and what George is missing is fidelity to the particular digital source does not make one particular preamp the gold standard.

A stereo must have all of its sub-parts working together to create what sounds most like the instrument and voices it strives to recreate. An active pre in my experience can deliver this end system result with as much fidelity to the voice and instrument as a passive mated with ideal companion components.

A CD player direct to an amp in not the gold standard of fidelity to the human voice or instrument. It is however possibly the gold standard of assuring the signal gets to the amp exactly as it left the CD player.

The two have nothing to do with each other. It's all about the total system result.

Grannyring,
Beautifully said.