Amp/Preamp Asylum

Posted by Jim McShane (D) on April 10, 2006 at 10:00:38

In Reply to: Are active preamps a pointless appendage of a bygone age? posted by L.D. on April 9, 2006 at 10:48:57:

I think what needs to be understood about a passive is that it simply has to be used in the right circumstances to be the right choice. I have used a passive for many years - but I drive it from low impedance outputs, and it drives a high input impedance amp. The cabling is 1 meter or less of low capacitance cable. The amp achieves maximum output power at 1.5 volts input, perfect for a line level device.

I've had any number of preamps in the front end, but I'd never go back to active. The passive is the best so far.

I also believe (I can't prove this, nor would I quarrel with someone who believes otherwise) that the passives have gotten too complex to be as good as they can be. My favorite passive of all time is my "McShane" - a super pot, some excellent switches, good RCAs, short signal paths using good wire - and that's it! Simple = good in my view.

Maybe the extreme high end preamps would do better; but as Charles says elsewhere in this thread, in the right circumstances a passive a better choice for many people.