What's the purpose of a preamp?

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Originally Posted by walpurgis

No point adding more gear if you don't need to as long as you're happy using your system that way.

If there's room in the power amp case, you could even investigate fitting a remote control pot.

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Alan (Firebottle) suggested that very same thing to me recently. And I do like the idea of that.

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Originally Posted by pankon

Since most -if not all- sources (e.g. DAC, CD player, phono stage) have an output voltage, that's capable of driving a power amp, then what's the purpose of an active preamp?

Doesn't a passive attenuator seem like a simpler, less intrusive and 'cleaner' solution of controlling volume, instead of an active preamp?

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In my experience - yes, but opinions are always quite strongly divided on this topic (as pointed out)

I currently use a simple 'voltage-divider' attentuator in my second system between a DAC and my Quad 303 power amp and can find no fault. In the past I have also had a similar set up with a Quad 405-2 and found it equalling the Quad 34 pre-amp it was originally paired with and had no problems at all.

BUT you need to note that these are both Solid State power amps and quite sensitive (0.5v input) so may lend themselves easily to this as opposed to your Croft tube based blocks. The divide in opinion also seems to be drawn along these lines quite often (i.e. tube v SS) although not exclusively.

It's a matter of principle that has to be proven right or wrong in practice. If no preamp is really required, apart from controlling volume, then why not go with a simple(r ) device, such a passive dual-mono attenuator and replace the preamp altogether? The principle is "simpler is better", right?

on my 30th plus pre amp now , just got another this week to play with . they add a sense of realism and musicality that straight vol controlled dacs sometimes miss but its individual choice

@ Phil aka Hifi nut - Did you just buy that Schiit Freya?
Look forward to what you think if you did, and let me know if you want to move it on.
Mand

As a matter of fact, I do not have a specific budget in mind. My question is whether I could improve the overall sound quality of my system (clarity, detail, sense of realism), by removing the active preamp and just adding a passive attenuator for controlling the volume.
But if I had to provide a figure, I would say 300-400GBP...?

I think you can improve all those aspects with a passive, but not sure by how much at your budget.
Mand

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Originally Posted by Mand

I think you can improve all those aspects with a passive, but not sure by how much at your budget.
Mand

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Well, what kind of budget would make sense, in order to substitute my current Croft Micro 25RS LS and get a significantly better performance?

Thanks

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Originally Posted by pankon

Well, what kind of budget would make sense, in order to substitute my current Croft Micro 25RS LS and get a significantly better performance?

Thanks

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Khozmo Acoustics attenuators enjoy a good reputation although I have no personal experience of them
They have a dual mono on this page for $329 that looks immaculate:

https://khozmo.com

I usually fabricate my own ---- but if I was in the market for one I would definitely be interested, the build quality looks superb.

I'm no expert but music first passive and Townsend allegri are universally approved by passive advocates.
Can be found used in uk for £1700 to £2000 ish.
Schiit Freya that I mention above is £700 new in uk, it offers passive, buffered passive and tube gain stage.
I can recommend wyred4sound stp SE - passive with active input buffer approx £2000ish.