Do you have DIY cabilities? I've made six or seven passive preamps, the best using Shallco switches from The Parts Connection (with Holco resistors) and internal wire supplied by the Stealth cable designer. The only change I'd make with the TPC Shallco is to submit my own list of resistors planned for 1 db steps rather than the 2db (or more) they give you. Thir HUGE range of attenuation has the advantage of working with ANY system, but the chances are very great that you'll need many fewer steps and so can make them much smaller. Please get in touch if you'd like to pursue this. I've looked into a lot of commercial passives, and found none quite as good as one you can make yourself for less money. If a chassis is a problem, I might be able to help with that too.
FT Audio/ Passive Preamps - Comments?
Any feedback on this preamp? I would like to add switching capability to a simple SET based system, but would like to change the sound as little as possible and definitely not degrade it at all. The amp that I use (Audion Silver Night) has a single volume pot, but accepts only one line source. I have already tried a few good active preamps with this setup and they changed the sound quite a bit and it was not to my liking. Because of this I am now wondering if a passive preamp might do the trick. I had originally hoped to pick up a used preamp with phono (AI, BAT, etc.), but having already tried an AI (which I really like in a friends system) and hearing the difference it made to my setup I have a feeling that I may be wasting my time trying to combine an active preamp with this system, considering what my goal is. The true integrated version of my amp retails for $3200, so that's out and the Placette that has a very good rep is also too high considering that I will need to pop for a phono as well. Any suggestions? The most I would need to add to the system is a CD changer for my wife and a phono.