Partly passive preamp?

fast My question: is there such a thing as a preamp which would allow me to use my other equipment but does nothing to the signal coming from the dac

My product does just that, but it’s one input only, you need one of these in front of it.https://goldpt.com/sw4.html
Cheers George

There’s a Placette passive pre on US Audio Mart for $1400 that has three inputs and is about as transparent as it gets.

I’d also highly recommend a Bryston BP-6, which I owned for years, that is active but is the epitome of the term “straight wire with gain” as it is the most open and transparent component I’ve ever heard.  This and the Placette are both single ended, but if you need/want balanced connections the Bryston BP-26 would give you that option.  There are some BP-6 and 26 pres available on eBay right now if you’re interested.  Given what you’re looking for I think you’ll be thrilled with any of these.  Hope this helps, and best of luck in your search. 

I’m not aware of any commercial product that does that (multiple inputs, pure passthrough on one input, active + volume control on others).

Otherwise you’d be talking about finding a new preamp (or high quality integrated) that equals or exceeds the performance that you get running your DAC direct, and ditto for your phono. 25 years is a good amount of time to justify an upgrade, I’d say!

I bought a little passive, opened it up and added my SC silver teflon jacketed wire. The switches were copper rotary, and the toggles were silver contact. I paid 49.00 and bought a pair. It took me 3-4 hours to do both, From a PC board to a point to point. Mine was for volume control on a bass set up and a Tweeter project that needed good silver wire beginning to end.
Copper would have been fine, BUT I had the silver so I did one with silver and one with copper.  They were RCA, XLR with a switch, but they had a place on the little MB (IC) for an additional opAmp and a few other goodies. Problem is it wouldn't be Point to Point, and running through lead/tin traces, not the best stuff for HiFi HiFi. 

My total cost per unit was 60.00 usd and some change. 2.5 hours labor.

Anything with ANY good parts, 500.00 or less is a steal...

Very easy to build an expensive passive with a few parts. I looked at
georgehifi's unit. I like it, but you notice a wire upgrade, better wire, solder and switches, make a BIG difference in sound it's there for a reason...Nice lookin' unit to. US made. Mine was US modified if that counts for anything... :-)

Regards

All you need is a preamp with true HT passthrough (not unity gain).

Check out Music First, which can be ordered with remote control.

Wyred 4 Sound STP-SE

Check out Tortuga passive with remote as well.

Tortuga has a new LDR300x available soon. For DIYers, the internals are already available. The price appears to be reasonable (under $1000) and they will have both a passive and active (tube buffer that can add a small amount of gain if needed) version.

I use Tim Stinson’s Luminous Audio Axiom II, Walker Mod unit....3 in, 2 out, single ended, remote ( volume, mute ). Love it, as I can’t hear it. His cables are excellent, as well. Be well.....stay safe......

I adore my Khozmo passive (with remote option and all the resistor upgrades).  It displaced my Slagle AVC.

I adore my Khozmo passive (with remote option and all the resistor upgrades). It displaced my Slagle AVC.

A good potentiometer will always sound less colored and more dynamic than the transformer based based passive.

Here is another good one for the OP fast around $500
https://www.goldpt.com/sa2.html
Or the 4 input stereo or dual mono https://www.goldpt.com/sa4.html

Cheers George

Thanks for the help/suggestions.  What about the Benchmark LA4 preamp?  Some rave reviews in both Stereophile and Absolute Sound, sounds like it is pretty much a passive preamp, good price?

Benchmark LA4 preamp Stereophile and Absolute Sound, sounds like it is pretty much a passive preamp

??
Why pay $2600.00 for it when the Goldpoint passives above are approx $500? depending on how many inputs needed.

Cheers George 

Goldpoint is a great passive. I use one with the Dual Volume pots. Very hard to tell the difference between direct to amp and using the Goldpoint..

$500 volume pots sound amazing until you hear better. Every audiophile needs to go through this phase. Don’t know a single person who has kept one though. 

Don’t know a single person who has kept one though.

I know many that have dumped their $KKK dollar active preamps for them, just mine alone that has only one input, is nudging up to 1k world wide now.
And going direct source to amp is just a bit better again, if not "bit-stripping" by having the sources digital domain volume too low.

Cheers George

There is a few posts in the LA4 preamp thread today that gives some examples of the quality of the LA4. You got nothing to lose other than $2500 if you do the 30 day free trial from Benchmark. I use a HPA4 with a few analog sources including a DAC.

Wow, did not realize the HPA4 was Product of the Year for 2019. It is marvelous with headphones.
https://benchmarkmedia.com/blogs/reviews/hpa4-review-tom-martin-the-absolute-sound

@fast As with yourself, I was also looking for a preamp that was very benign to the signal coming in. The 2 that I narrowed my focus on were the Mola Mola Makua $12K - $20K and the Benchmark LA4 $2.5K. I ended up getting the HPA4 at $3K. The HPA4 is the finest component I ever bought and I am building my office system around it. Some folks are putting 20K+ sources and 20K+ amps in-between the LA4 for the same reason you are looking to do with a preamp.

If I go separates for my future downstairs ssytem I will get another LA4 or HPA4. Ease of use for the wife is going to be a big factor on the downstairs system (iPhone, simple turn on, etc...). So not sure about separates.