Howie -- maybe he means that the volume controls contained in the cdps are not very good?
There seem to be many S&B users here. BTW, the 102 is NOT a step up, it ust has a +6 output tap on the secondary that one may or may not use (I, for one, don't).
The basic premise is simple: IF the source (cdp) has a reasonably low output impedance (mine has 22-50 max ohms) and the load is sufficiently benign (10kOhm or higher), then you're set for a wonderful musical journey. If the load is lower than ~7kOhm and the source impedance is high, then dynamics suffer... i.e. you;re losing energy across the "transmission line".
There's really no reason for an active line level device unless you need the buffer effect. Things are different when it comes to a phono (there, you need the extra amplification)!
There seem to be many S&B users here. BTW, the 102 is NOT a step up, it ust has a +6 output tap on the secondary that one may or may not use (I, for one, don't).
The basic premise is simple: IF the source (cdp) has a reasonably low output impedance (mine has 22-50 max ohms) and the load is sufficiently benign (10kOhm or higher), then you're set for a wonderful musical journey. If the load is lower than ~7kOhm and the source impedance is high, then dynamics suffer... i.e. you;re losing energy across the "transmission line".
There's really no reason for an active line level device unless you need the buffer effect. Things are different when it comes to a phono (there, you need the extra amplification)!