I am responding planning on getting ripped because I don't know all exactly. But at least if I do say something, and write an erroneous post, maybe someone will feel compelled to respond to your question and straighted me out. Sort of unclog things. This is the desired result.
My understanding is there are two stages active and passive. In passive there is regular?? and buffered mode. Active first.
In the active mode, the pre ads a little gain to the incoming signal (sort of boosts it some) before it sends it on its way to the amp. Similar to the booster signal in a phono stage, and much needed to amplify the signal picked up by a phono cartridge. Without the boost (added gain) from the phono, you would not hear much. With the ALD, it just starts with a stronger signal (from the CD player, say) and ads less boost. This should be louder than the passive mode, and maybe a little different sound. Here's why,
The passive stage, in contrast, ads no gain. That gain signal can sometimes color sound and as such, the passive mode it is the pure way to go. It takes the incoming signal, ads nothing, and sends it on its way. Neutral and passive.
The buffered option (only available to the passive section) is. . . I don't know. Most say they can't tell a difference between the passive buffered, and the passive unbuffered. I ran my TLC-1 for a long time (same passive stage as your ALD) w/o even ever knowing which I was in (buffered/unbuffered). Now I hope I'm right, but if I'm wrong, let it rip.
Chris
My understanding is there are two stages active and passive. In passive there is regular?? and buffered mode. Active first.
In the active mode, the pre ads a little gain to the incoming signal (sort of boosts it some) before it sends it on its way to the amp. Similar to the booster signal in a phono stage, and much needed to amplify the signal picked up by a phono cartridge. Without the boost (added gain) from the phono, you would not hear much. With the ALD, it just starts with a stronger signal (from the CD player, say) and ads less boost. This should be louder than the passive mode, and maybe a little different sound. Here's why,
The passive stage, in contrast, ads no gain. That gain signal can sometimes color sound and as such, the passive mode it is the pure way to go. It takes the incoming signal, ads nothing, and sends it on its way. Neutral and passive.
The buffered option (only available to the passive section) is. . . I don't know. Most say they can't tell a difference between the passive buffered, and the passive unbuffered. I ran my TLC-1 for a long time (same passive stage as your ALD) w/o even ever knowing which I was in (buffered/unbuffered). Now I hope I'm right, but if I'm wrong, let it rip.
Chris