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RE: So much confusion

Posted by Say on May 17, 2011 at 12:44:18:
This post is to no one in particular. Instead it is an observation of mine over the years of listening with both passive and active preamps.
First conclusion I have is that people will state their taste more than anything else. The second point is that the system will dictate how the preamp sounds just as much as the preamp dictates how the system sounds.
After owning and listening with the ARC LS7, Golden Tube Audio Sep-1, CJ Premier 14, VAC Renaissance Signature and Promitheus TVC I can draw the following:
The ARC LS7 - is a lower rung model with good mids but limited highs
Golden Tube - I liked it till the volume control died on me. Fixed it but found better units later on. This preamp did a swell job once I changed the dual triode to a better NOS.
CJ 14 - good everything but still the golden glow.
VAC Ren - better then the previous units at everything, and still a golden glow.
TVC - best at the upper registers. Clear and uncompressed highs. Good at bass. Good at midrange. The only fault is that it didn't bloom like the CJ did nor throw an expansive soundstage like the VAC. Nor did the TVC have the mid/bass bounce and guts of the others till...
...and this is the best part. Till I got it right. Now it has very good mid bass. I just had to tweak my system and find an amp that suits those needs. I cannot go back to the actives with a fine TVC around unless I want to sacrifice detail. I lose too much (much is a relative term so take this as a relative observation) information for the sake of mid bass I now have anyway after tinkering.