|
Post by MikeMusic on Apr 23, 2018 19:37:17 GMT
Passive Pre Amps getting a great reputation from some quarters as people switch from normal to passive.
The passive price is very nice. No mains to worry about. Simplicity so less technology which has to be good.
What experience do we have ?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 23, 2018 20:33:33 GMT
Different people have different views on how the Pot type & configuration is utilised
|
|
|
Post by MartinT on Apr 23, 2018 20:59:40 GMT
It's hard to find a switch with enough positions to make a resistor network volume control (I tried years ago) and all the track type volume pots have problems of their own. My pet hate is a stereo pot with tracking variations across the range.
I also personally find them a little flat and lifeless compared with an active pre but I know of others who have polar opposite views. It's going to depend on power amp matching, to a large degree.
|
|
|
Post by julesd68 on Apr 23, 2018 21:58:36 GMT
It would be very interesting to hear a good implementation of a passive pre at the next ASBO!
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2018 3:28:55 GMT
They do not all sound flat & lifeless.
|
|
|
Post by John on Apr 24, 2018 4:24:28 GMT
Agree system matching is important I had good experience with them in the past
|
|
|
Post by MartinT on Apr 24, 2018 5:24:33 GMT
They do not all sound flat & lifeless. Granted, and it's just that I prefer an active preamp.
|
|
|
Post by karatestu on Apr 24, 2018 6:56:29 GMT
I use a passive pre of sorts. No source selector or volume pot/switch. Just two resistors per channel soldered in, one in series with the signal and one to ground. Sounds amazing to my ears but I cant adjust the volume Once I got the resistor value about right then the volume on all my cd's is on a level where I would usually listen. Once the turntable source gets used I presume it may be too quiet but don't know yet. It has proven though that passive is the way to go for me and my diy nva based amps. But then the nva amp circuit was designed with passive pre's in mind so par for the course. I have not tried a proper stepped attenuator yet but I expect the switch contacts will make a difference for the worse. Same with a source selector. But you gotta live I suppose.
|
|
|
Post by MartinT on Apr 24, 2018 7:23:03 GMT
But then the nva amp circuit was designed with passive pre's in mind so par for the course. Yes, I think that's key to good compatibility with a passive pre.
|
|
|
Post by Firebottle on Apr 24, 2018 7:33:06 GMT
In my experience transformer based passives give the best sounding results. However there is usually a little ringing if the signal is investigated with a scope.
My preference is an active pre, no surprise?
|
|
|
Post by mikeyb on Apr 24, 2018 18:18:19 GMT
My Promitheus TVC pre is certainly sounding the business with my Primaluna Power amp, I've never heard my system sound better than it is right now 😉 😊
|
|
|
Post by miller65 on Apr 24, 2018 18:33:30 GMT
I am now using a Tisbury passive pre which works really well with my Avondale S100 Power Amp , very full and transparent sound and although I have used passives in the past which tend to squash the dynamics not so with the Tisbury , a real bargain certainly in my system. The only minor issue is the stepped attenuator which has just 23 steps , can be a problem on certain cd s fine tuning the volume . A 48 step attenuator would address this issue and I may look at the Polish Khozmo at some stage which gets some good reviews.
|
|
|
Post by The Brookmeister on Apr 24, 2018 18:56:53 GMT
I have used Music First Audio passives for over 10 years now. Happy to lend you one at your next ASBO.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2018 20:20:12 GMT
LOL
|
|
|
Post by dsjr on Apr 25, 2018 10:43:57 GMT
Some amps don't like a passive. My old Crowns hum when used that way (despite having gain pots of their own the front end which are fine without the extra box feeding them) yet are silent at all volumes with the active preamp driving them. I suspect the Krell KSA50S I had was the same to be honest, this latter needing a balanced feed to sound at its best according to reviews and the manufacturer's blurb...
Mike, you won't believe me, but you can get a perfectly transparent constant impedance passive with a stereo or two single film pots costing a very few quid. The thing is, audiophiles want things that LOOK better than a mere plastic film pot, so all manner of lavishly cased attenuators come along at all manner of prices and of course if they look posher and cost more, they seem to 'sound' better psychologically too in my opinion. There are one or two lovely looking attenuators available using good resistor networks and costing a couple of hundred each before being boxed, but apart from channel tracking at the very bottom of the rotation, I don't know if the humble plastic film pots are really 'worse,' despite not looking posh...
My personal advice is to ask the manufacturer's advice. Cheap passives can be easily got from Thomann for a simple pot in a box, to the slightly more versatile and hand made NVA's at a tone upwards. more than this involves more inputs, a stepped attenuator or two and at the very top of the tree, casework costing far more than the innards to make them look the part.. In my opinion.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2018 10:47:26 GMT
Ive used a couple of good quality 10K passives with a Quad '303' & to be honest i prefer the partnering '33' Pre
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2018 20:54:14 GMT
It would be very interesting to hear a good implementation of a passive pre at the next ASBO! You heard one at the last ASBO I was running the Art Audio VP1 in passive mode all day and that is a 50k alps pot in a shunt arrangement.
|
|
|
Post by julesd68 on Apr 25, 2018 21:15:57 GMT
It would be very interesting to hear a good implementation of a passive pre at the next ASBO! You heard one at the last ASBO I was running the Art Audio VP1 in passive mode all day and that is a 50k alps pot in a shunt arrangement. Well that has surprised me, I wouldn't have guessed Doc! I loved the Art Audio rig as you know, just goes to show it must be all in the implementation / amp matching.
|
|
|
Post by sq225917 on Apr 25, 2018 21:17:40 GMT
best i've heard are the Townshend Alegri and the Bent Labs tap X module- which are superb.
|
|
|
Post by karatestu on Apr 26, 2018 6:15:59 GMT
I am now using a Tisbury passive pre which works really well with my Avondale S100 Power Amp , very full and transparent sound and although I have used passives in the past which tend to squash the dynamics not so with the Tisbury , a real bargain certainly in my system. The only minor issue is the stepped attenuator which has just 23 steps , can be a problem on certain cd s fine tuning the volume . A 48 step attenuator would address this issue and I may look at the Polish Khozmo at some stage which gets some good reviews. I did some experiments with resistors to see what value will give me the loudest i will ever need. It was equivalent to step 16 on a 23 step 10k SA. So i am going to build my own 23 step SA with that resistor value being step 23. I can then put in 7 more resistors in the range that i listen most which will give me a more fine tunable volume in the most critical range. This also gives me control over how loud the system will play. Handy when my kids decide to have a party - they wont be able to blow my amps and speakers. Win, win.
|
|