Do all Passive preamps exhibit this trait

Contrary to Clio's advice, if you want to get the most out of a passive your best bet is to match the amp and source for input and output. IOW, the source output should be just barely able to drive the amp to full output.

This will mean that the passive is turned up all the way for full volume. The advantage of this is that passive controls traditionally limit dynamic contrasts and bass impact as you turn the volume down, due to the interaction between the cable, the input of the amp, and the control itself. So to minimize this you will want to set things up so that you are operating the passive at or near full volume.

A properly designed active line stage will be able to control the interconnect cable to a great degree, in fact that is one of the functions of the line section. If done right, the cable will cease to have any serious consequence regardless of its length or construction, but too many active line sections are designed without this in mind, hence a passive can give them a good run for the money. But if the active line stage is designed and built right, no passive made will challenge it.

Hi Clio09, with TVCs its a different game and in that context I agree with you. My comments apply only to passive volume controls that are transformerless.

A properly designed TVC can, IMO, do better than the best PVCs; in fact I think that unless you have the very best in an active line stage, that a good TVC is going to be one of the better if not best alternatives.

Mingles, sure sounds like your experience is similar to mine, but keep in mind also the caveat 'properly designed' which I am careful to use. IMO, most of the active line stage technology you see today seriously trails behind amplifier and phono preamp technologies. I feel that this is because many line stage designers are not even aware that control of the interconnect cable is one of the goals/functions of the line section.