In Reply to: passive preamp question posted by Randy Bey on January 20, 2001 at 06:36:22:
I am running a Welborne 10K passive into Apollos.I also have a Foreplay that I'm figuring out what to do with.
On my best source, a Blue Circle Phono stage (which has lots
of drive), the Passive has more spacial sense, and is just generally a little clearer and better sounding.On my MSB link dac the Forplay has more body and better bass than the passive. But, again, the passive has more spacial information (especially front to back). However, on 24/96 the Forplay sound noticably better. It has a lot more body and presence.
On my cheap tuner, VCR, and cassette player there is no comparison. The passive sounds dead compared to the Foreplay.
So there you have my experience, which is exactly what Ron W. said. If your source components are up to the task, the passive sounds better. But the less able the source in the current department, the more it needs an active linestage to make up for its deficiency.
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