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Poll - Active vs. Passive preamp

Thought it might be interesting to see who's using a passive vs. active linestage. List your total system value and/or components as well.

Have been enjoying a Supratek for about 8 months now. It is indeed a killer unit. Today, for kicks, I put the Prometheus TVC back in the system - it is pretty astounding how good it sounds at 1/10th the cost. I was very impressed (again). I'll withhold further comments.

I'd previously concluded that almost all really good higher-end systems use an active linestage. I wonder how true that statement is.
paulfolbrecht

Showing 2 responses by atmasphere

atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
12,099 posts
 
There are already a few active/passive threads here on the 'gon. But I think this is the only poll so far...

In my system I have speakers that are 97 db. Depending on the material that I play, I would not have a hope of having enough gain without an active line section (MP-1 Mk.III), at least not if I want to play the final act of Wagner's Götterdämmerung at anything near the right volume!
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
12,099 posts
 
Pubul57, if you don't need the gain then that is all there is to that and I would not add any more!

There is a classic set of tradeoffs between gain, bandwidth and distortion. The rule is that you don't get all three. We traded off distortion for less gain in our amps so it takes a bit more to drive them. At least in the case of our preamps, that makes for only 4 stages of gain total between the phono cartridge and the loudspeaker.

I prefer a lower output in digital gear as the analog section will have less gain and should sound better, all other things being equal...
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