If it's the Cary SLP-50 referred to above, it is a very nice little preamp. Since you are interested in passive, you might want to give a Placette Passive linestage a try. I think the used price is still around $900, if you can find one. You should be able to audition a used one and recoup your investment if it's not to your liking. The linestage comes with a remote control that does not adversely affect the sound quality and has three inputs and two outputs standard. They also make a RVC, remote volume control, that is a single in/out and is around $700 used. It is the same volume control as in the linestage and also is remote controlled.
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