Bent Audio Autoformer vs Tube Pre

Don't you own a TRL Dude? At least that is what I have seen you post previously. Surely you must know Grannyring owns one given the TRL family is pretty well connected.

I'm guessing you probably know where I stand on this subject as well given my very open opinions about passive preamps. Although I have not compared any passive preamp to The Dude, I have compared them to many active preamps. You could do a lot worse than the Bent modules, but your system has to be optimized for it. Just for ha ha's contact Audiogon member Dgarrettson. He implemented an LDR volume control in his Atma-Sphere MP-3 preamp. Could give you the best of both worlds.

I have sold my Dude as my source is now fully balanced. I don't know your view on passives so if you can share, that would be great.

Well, yes the Dude still abides in my system and will stay! I tried a Bent product a couple of years ago that only had one input if I recall. The best passive I have tried was the Lightspeed. If money was my number one issue, and I needed to obtain the best sound I could for very little money, I would look to the Lightspeed.

In my systems the Dude was just more pleasing to listen through. I am far more engaged in the music with it in my system compared to a passive.

Was the Bent that you tried an Autoformer and fully balanced unit?

No just the basic TAP autoformer , not balanced.