1) passive transformer based volume and simple switching

2) active preamplification

The pluses on one side are simplicity, and cost. A 'good' transformer based V&S box is around $700, kit form. Minuses are no phono amplification, but an outboard phono stage is often acceptable.

The pluses on the other are convention and choice. A phono stage is often included, but not always. The minuses would include the almost inevitable consideration that the sound is colored to some degree or another by the active components, high cost for 'good' quality, etc.

Yes, this is an old debate, but one that seems to beg discussion.

Many respectable people say that 'less is better' when it comes to hifi. I am not enough of an electrical engineer to decide if the physical merits, including impedance matching and voltage regulation, are significant or not.

What DO I know? I know that my current switchless system with passive volume control that has the CD player running directly to the amps sounds damn good.

I also know that many, many people adhere to the active preamp scenario.

Oh, were that someone could put my mind to rest on this subject. Maybe this is one of those things that must be experienced to be appreciated?

Randy

Sic Gorgiamus Allos Subjectatos Nunc

 It depends on your requirements - mike_decock 13:15:28 08/30/02 (2)
 Dude, remotes rock, ferssure! - psgary 16:31:38 08/31/02 (1)
 Re: Dude, remotes rock, ferssure! - mike_decock 11:40:48 09/04/02 (0)

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 It depends on your requirements - mike_decock 13:15:28 08/30/02 (2)
 Dude, remotes rock, ferssure! - psgary 16:31:38 08/31/02 (1)
 Re: Dude, remotes rock, ferssure! - mike_decock 11:40:48 09/04/02 (0)

Otherwise, I would probably pick passive.

-Mike...

I don't think my OBH-12's remote messes up the sound much. It's sounded very good with all comers.

That ASL caught my eye, though, as a possible match for my Waves. What do you think of it?

I think it's a GREAT match with the Waves. Compared to the Cambridge A500 I was using as a preamp, there's a LOT more texture and a greater sense of dynamics.

It's not the quietest preamp in the world, but a little background noise doesn't bother me if I can't hear it from my listening position.

The remote has very granular controls which I like.

The headphone output is a nice bonus and sounded really good with my Beyer DT250-80s.

I'll try to do a proper review once I've spent some time with it, but I'm already anxious to go home and listen to it again.

-Mike...