Looking for a simple but exquisite front end

All you should need is a standard preamp (apparently not passive) and preferably one with balanced outputs as the speakers look like they only have XLR inputs.  Which preamp you choose should be based on what sonic characteristics you’re looking for as the ATCs are a pretty blank slate so the preamp can greatly influence the sound you ultimately hear.  If you haven’t already I’d suggest reading a lot of reviews to see which preamps match best for your tastes and demo as many as possible preferably in your own system if at all possible.  Best of luck.

weare an Atc dealer with actives on display

we recomend an naim uniti tom he

you get a balanced preamp a dac and streamer and even a headphone amplifier

Naim gear sounds great is well made and as a fantastic app.

dave and Troy

audio intellect NJ

atc and Naim dealers

If you do go with the Naim, make sure to get the new Uniti 2.

@OP - Passive preamps - in effect a volume pot  in a box - are as rare as hen's teeth. Even buffered passives, which are part active are rare,  so you have a wide range of active preamps to choose from.

The best approach is to find a good dealer and listen to a few alternatives in your price range.

No romance you need the Atom he which has balanced outputs none of the other units have a balanced output 

The Atom he = headphone edition

I have a regular Atom… has been excellent for 6 years but recently bricked and service for North America goes to Canada… slow but works… eventually.

the Atom he also has functionality the OP might not need, so consider preamp / streamers..of which there are a bunch….

I’m in the market for a pre-amp/DAC (don’t need internal streamer, but fine if it doesn’t harm the unit or price) and there’s a nice crop of devices out now, some from new orgs (Ferum, new b2c, was an OEM only shop) some from longer standing brands: (T+A, Sim/Moon), in reverse order:

1. https:// simaudio.com/en/product-category/preamplifiers/
   1. my budget drives the 390, I heard it locally and setting up an in-home trial shortly. The 791 seems well regarded short of their "north" high line...
2. https:// www.ta-hifi.de/en/audiosystems/series-200/dac-200-d-a-converter/
   1. i’d get it with the HDMI board, this pushes my budget limit, so it’s the upper limit for me, personally
3. https:// ferrum.audio/wandla-hypsos/
   1. the external power supply is more than filter and rectifieer, the variable voltage combined with DAC filter tuning looks interesting

Each of these is worth reading about, thankfully I have 2 dealers which carry all 3 between them near me. I will be doing a head to head on the first 2 in my system. Seeing if I can do the same with the Wandla... but haven’t secured that yet.

They seem to all provide a good value (all relative) each with special strengths outside the normal marques you may know.

happy listening.

edit: PS: i run XLR out to my Buckeye amps, andall 3 of these suggestions have XLR outs but also have RCA outputs - which I will use for my dual subs (HSU’s) - thought you might want to add 4 analog outputs (variable gain, not just fixed level line/tape out) to your feature list for potential subs in your future to supplement your towers...

I have been using a Moon 390 with a Moon 330 Amp to drive Magnapan 1.7i’s for about 2 1/2 years. Very pleased with sound and flexibility of 390 ( I still have my TT, CD player and Cassette deck from decades past).  

@h4k4lugi 

Your Buckeye amps may not sit well with the OP @hailtothevictorz 

@mahler123   ?    the point was to share my need for XLR as well, the buckeye purifi monoblocks I run are XLR only, so that my suggestions for his research would be compatible with his active speakers.

My point was that a product with the word Buckeye in it may not be appreciated by a poster whose screen name is Hail To The Victors.  In other words, I was making a joke

I suppose a look at the long run win / loss column might say otherwise….

ive got significant seat time listening to my orchestra conductor buddy 390 / 330 system w Vandersteen Quattro CT….. very lovely sonics…. his LP-12 languish…..

im sure the T+A delivers similar…. 

@mahler123 ah, the Michigan motto.  I don't follow college sports, so it was lost on me. 

@tomic601 ​​@evanpress thank you for that.

If anyone is:

• near enough to Washington DC 
• can prove you're not a psycho
• interested in hearing a 3 way shoot out

I've gotten word from both dealers that I'll have access to those 3 devices in my home the week of 5/21 (tuesday - friday), it may not be "in your house" but hearing them side by side (with and without my BACCH4mac processing) in a treated residential room, vs a dealer showroom, may be enjoyable. 

I am willing to share the experience if anyone's interested.  You're welcome to bring your reasonably sized speakers (and a source) as well for swap outs vs. my Ulfberhts and Roon.

Hegel P20 

Check out the Eversolo DMP-A8. It’s an exceptional all-in-one streamer/DAC/preamp. Its DAC is equal and even superior to some standalone DACs I’ve owned that match or exceed the retail price of the Eversolo. Its preamp is as transparent as a good passive unit. Its streaming UI is one of the best on the market.

I ultimately preferred the DMP-A8 to my $6600 worth of front end separates.