Passive Balanced Monitor/Amp controller/preamp

[enio nery]

anyway, its not balanced but it may interest others who dont need balanced connection. this used to be a luxman input selector that i hacked and turned into a passive preamp by adding a 50k blue velvet.

 

[enio nery]

Uh Uh, beware with Acetone, it may be well too aggressive and alters the material underneath.

that would be a bummer but im willing to just paint it over if the unfortunate happens. if i ever buy one.

 

[Martin]

and also does it have a popping sound when plugged in? i just realized it doesnt have a on off switch?

I left mine and plugged in at all times.

 

[Kal Rubinson]

The Schitt Freya S, a selectable passive/active preamp reviewed here at ASR by Amir last month is an excellent unit, but even for a stepped (relay controlled) attenuator, channel balance was good in passive mode, but a bit off in active mode. LINK

The Topping Pre90 would be an appealing alternative to this Schiit. I don't understand the preference for passive when low-cost, high-performance alternatives are available (and advantageous).

 

[nn_in]

I covered this exact subject yesterday here at ASR - stepped attenuators typically yield the best channel balance. You might want to check out the passive preamps from Khozmo, Axiom or Goldpoint (Picture below) and look at reviews of them. The cheaper Nobsound seems to be a good unit, but uses a continuous attenuator, not a stepped one.

LINK to my post...

View attachment 52958

Thank for this thread and responses from folks.
Request guidance .

Using XLR input and output I do need passive/active pre with remote control to work in between Ares2 dac and Power Amp ie PA5 (balanced inputs only).

Iam seeing some impedance issues with some Topping preamps and hence considering Schiit Freya S as a preamp as i don't need dac functionality.Will this work without the impedance issues for Ares2 to Freya S to PA5

In future when prices cool down for purifi amps with XLR inputs i can continue to keep the Ares2 ,Freya in the chain and evaluate the purifi modules .

Anybody using Freya S and PA5

 

[sonder]

I use this relay based one from AliExpress:
View attachment 52962

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32997802910.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.37a54c4dPYMiAM

It's cheaper than the stepped attenuators and works well in my system.

Martin

Are you still using this / how'd you rate it?

 

[Martin]

Are you still using this / how'd you rate it?

I have not used it in a year or two. No need in my current setup. It worked well and I found it audibly transparent, i.e., it did nothing to the signal other than attenuation. I have no qualms recommending it. I sold mine.

Martin

 

[sonder]

I have not used it in a year or two. No need in my current setup. It worked well and I found it audibly transparent, i.e., it did nothing to the signal other than attenuation. I have no qualms recommending it. I sold mine.

Martin

Thank you, trigger pulled on the last one at audiophonics, appreciate the speedy response considering I raised this comment from 3 years ago!

For future people stumbling on this thread, here's a pre90 that's totally transparent:

and here's the board in the 256 stepped it's based on a Texas instruments adc board, it's not an ADC device though, it's setup so that an analog potentiometer sends an analog voltage to control the 8-bit ADC0804 controller which opens and closes relays on precision resistors. Two signal paths. I expect it's fully transparent.

 

[Stoutblock]

I just picked up the balanced 48 step version of this passive relay attenuator. I find it sounds extremely transparent compared to my Gustard DAC digital attenuator. Other than I wish it had a numerical indicator I am quite satisfied with the build quality.

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805394316308.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.order_list_main.5.70021802I7TX1Y&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa

 

[rdaow]

In case anyone is still looking (like I was) here's the current one from Audiophonics:

Passive Preamplifier converter RCA to XLR / XLR to RCA Silver - Audiophonics

This passive stereo 10kΩ volume controller allows you to switch from balanced XLR to unbalanced RCA inputs and vice versa, from unbalanced RCA to balanced XLR.

www.audiophonics.fr

 

[AwdioNoob]

In case anyone is still looking (like I was) here's the current one from Audiophonics:

Passive Preamplifier converter RCA to XLR / XLR to RCA Silver - Audiophonics

This passive stereo 10kΩ volume controller allows you to switch from balanced XLR to unbalanced RCA inputs and vice versa, from unbalanced RCA to balanced XLR.

www.audiophonics.fr

I need to get one of these. However the new build from Audiophonics looks nothing like the old one...should I be weary and track down the older preamp? There're some glowing reviews on 'previous model' whether it's sold as "Nobsound" or "Yisheng Hifi / Haosheng Hifi".

Nobsound/Yisheng Hifi Preamp:

No Name Preamp:

... or maybe look into the "Palmer Audio Interface"? One day I'm struggling to find a quality balanced volume control that didn't cost hundreds and hundreds of dollars, now I'm struggling with all these low cost options.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GIF8GBG/?th=1

 

[DrSpan]

Ended up using that for half a year, can’t be more satisfied, beatiful, smooth and very precise small steps to use and completely transparent, the steps are fine enough that I don’t ever want a potentiometer anymore

Hello there.

Years later, do you still use it? If yes are you still satisfied ?

 

[YSC]

Hello there.

Years later, do you still use it? If yes are you still satisfied ?

yes, very satisified, perfect channel balance for volume control, and 1db -2db steps makes it very precise and it looks great! can't find any reason to "upgrade"

 

[DrSpan]

yes, very satisified, perfect channel balance for volume control, and 1db -2db steps makes it very precise and it looks great! can't find any reason to "upgrade"

Thank you.

Just to be clear, we are talking about the Khozmo right?

 

[YSC]

Thank you.

Just to be clear, we are talking about the Khozmo right?

Yes, it’s basically is a very well made stepped attenuator, likely will survive longer than me

 

[DrSpan]

i s

Yes, it’s basically is a very well made stepped attenuator, likely will survive longer than me

I sincerely wish for you (and for me ) that we live longer than the device then

 

[YSC]

i s

I sincerely wish for you (and for me ) that we live longer than the device then

then it will be a really long life, passive resistors easily last for decades

 

[DrSpan]

i s

Yes, it’s basically is a very well made stepped attenuator, likely will survive longer than me

I sincerely wish for you (and for me ) that we live longer than the device then

That was my hope and my point. Take care my friend

 

[Parker_knoll]

Can I revive this old thread?

I'm looking at a master volume for my system. I'm running two sources, vinyl and DAC, into a pair of Genelec 8020 with the Genelec 7040 sub.

I tried a Drawmer MC2.1 but it surprisingly added some noise and softened the top end. It sounds much livelier and crisper going direct to the speakers but I'd really like a master volume.

I was considering either a Heritage Audio Baby Ram or one of these relay controlled volumes (discussed earlier in the thread) but I read about capacitance issues with passive volume controls and that you need a short low capacitance cable from the volume to the amp, but because we're dealing with powered speakers in this case that isn't possible. I can't do less than about 1.5m. Does this rule out a passive volume and I need to look at active units only?

SPL 2Control or Volume2 are possibilities but I'm worried it'll have the same effect as the Drawmer.

 

[Redacted]

So you have a phono preamp of some sort for the vinyl and a DAC.
The Genelecs have a single balanced input.
How are you currently selecting between vinyl and DAC?