A really good active preamp will actually be more transparent than a passive preamp for all of the reasons mentioned by Albert.
Using a passive preamp places demands on source components that they are often not ready to meet. Even with the rare capable source and good impedance match, a passive unit is a pure impediment or drag on the source and the signal with no upside.
I will go a step further and say that in the best systems the preamp is often more of a determining factor than the power amp in the overall sound quality of the system.
Using a passive preamp places demands on source components that they are often not ready to meet. Even with the rare capable source and good impedance match, a passive unit is a pure impediment or drag on the source and the signal with no upside.
I will go a step further and say that in the best systems the preamp is often more of a determining factor than the power amp in the overall sound quality of the system.