Tell me your best preamp

[wadude]

They can work quite well if you have adequate gain in your system and don't need additional amplification. A fringe benefit is that the attenuator adds no distortion to the signal, too.

It’s true, I‘ve been using a passive for years, first with a pot until discovering step attenuators which was a game changer for low volume listening.

 

[antcollinet]

They can work quite well if you have adequate gain in your system and don't need additional amplification. A fringe benefit is that the attenuator adds no distortion to the signal, too.

The downside is their output impedance can be quite high - meaning if there is sufficient capacitance on the output cable, that *can* start to have an audible effect on the frequency response.

 

[wadude]

It took some time studying the concept of bridging between source, passive pre and power amps, (I'm no EE), but it's worked out well.

 

[egellings]

The downside is their output impedance can be quite high - meaning if there is sufficient capacitance on the output cable, that *can* start to have an audible effect on the frequency response.

True.

 

[wadude]

There are some amazing threads and links to passives, (they may be passive but I’m the one actively getting up to change the volume), and as a electrical lay person, ASR offers so much expertise and it’s easy to forget to show gratitude, so, thanks!

 

[Petrushka]

The Topping has a digital volume control. I would never connect that directly to a Poweramp. If that thing ever glitches out you get 100% volume.

Best of all worlds: power amps with step attenuators in their input to limit maximum volume.

But you need to consider failure modes in the amp itself.

Are fuses against the law?