Gain of line preamplifier

Czarivey you make a lot of sense. I agree with you, an active preamp with just the right gain to work. Most high gain preamps don't allow you to use the volume control at a higher level. An active preamp keeps the imp. constant is what you want. Yes passive preamps sound ideal on paper, but to me I have never liked one in my system and I have tried a few.

Atmasphere what if now you throw in a shunt 42 stepped attenuator into the mix. Now the input impedance lowers as the volume is lowered. This will roll off the bass especially using tube phono stages or tube cd players.

Atmosphere do you know of a 42 stepped attenuator with only two resistos in line at each click that is not a shunt attenuator?