I tried the Creek between an Odyssey Stratos and MSB Nelson dac, shortest possible IC's ( 1.5ft) and hated it. The soundstage became very flat, entirely 2d. Bass and trebble extension was outstanding, imaging was just ok, vocals where hollow and lost presence, overall just didn't sound "right," was only a stereophile class "C" component for a reason. For the cash it can't be beat, but there are many better preamps out there for not much more on the used market. Still, you must try it for yourself in your own system to see what you like. I would suggest trying the Adcom 750 pre as a good alternative that has an active and passive section, and can be had for around $600-700 used.
Passive Preamp - What makes it work?
I want to try a passive preamp, such as Creek's OBH 12, as an inexpensive pre to replace my current Denon AVR1700. I've read a bunch on here that output levels from the CD and input impedance of the amp are crucial factors. What should I be looking for to see if this is a good idea for my system? Is the goal to make the impedances match, or should one be higher than the other? Also, are there any passive pre's with a home theater passthru?
My system:
Joseph Audio RM22si signatures (86 db sensitivity)
McIntosh MC-2105 amp (input impedance 200k)
Music Hall CD25
Thanks
My system:
Joseph Audio RM22si signatures (86 db sensitivity)
McIntosh MC-2105 amp (input impedance 200k)
Music Hall CD25
Thanks