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Thread: Advice on Passive Pre-amp

  1. #1
    Join Date: May 2014

    Location: Solihull

    Posts: 717
    I'm Martin.

    Default Advice on Passive Pre-amp

    Hi all. I thought I would try a passive pre as my TT does not get any use.
    Totally puzzled on how I determine the log value needed
    Any ideas??
    Lumley Heliosphere Audiomods 5
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    Audiomeca Kreatura &,SW1X DAC1
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  2. #2
    Join Date: Oct 2012

    Location: The Black Country

    Posts: 6,089
    I'm Alan.

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    SS amps generally have lower input impedances, perhaps 22K or 10K on some.

    Valve amps generally have higher input impedances, perhaps 100K or even going as high as 1M.

    I usually opt for something in the middle that will work with either, so 50K for me.

  3. #3
    Join Date: May 2014

    Location: Solihull

    Posts: 717
    I'm Martin.

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    Thanks Alan, the Sirius is 10k so it should be OK
    Lumley Heliosphere Audiomods 5
    Voyd Valdi AN Arm 1 V2 and Denon MC
    Audiomeca Talisman Highly Modded
    Audiomeca Kreatura &,SW1X DAC1
    Hovland HP200 MC
    Hovland Radia
    Ming Da 805 monos
    Magnum Dynalab Etude, RWA Cassabria + LCD 3
    Wilson Benesch Actors
    Cables by Cardas, Hovland G3 and Yter

  4. #4
    Join Date: Sep 2009

    Location: west mids, UK

    Posts: 3,268
    I'm Phil.

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    I have the marvellous freya passive which seems excellent. Be happy to pop round one day and try in your system
    ou might slip, you might slide, you might
    Stumble and fall by the road side
    But don't you ever let nobody drag your spirit down
    Remember you're walking up to heaven

    Don't let nobody turn you around
    … Walk with the rich, walk with the poor
    Learn from everyone, that's what life is for
    And don't you let nobody drag your spirit down

    Eric Bibb

  5. #5
    Join Date: May 2014

    Location: Solihull

    Posts: 717
    I'm Martin.

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    Quote Originally Posted by hifinutt View Post
    I have the marvellous freya passive which seems excellent. Be happy to pop round one day and try in your system
    That sounds like a good idea. I have a Khozmo arriving at some time???? so would be ideal then
    Lumley Heliosphere Audiomods 5
    Voyd Valdi AN Arm 1 V2 and Denon MC
    Audiomeca Talisman Highly Modded
    Audiomeca Kreatura &,SW1X DAC1
    Hovland HP200 MC
    Hovland Radia
    Ming Da 805 monos
    Magnum Dynalab Etude, RWA Cassabria + LCD 3
    Wilson Benesch Actors
    Cables by Cardas, Hovland G3 and Yter

  6. #6
    Join Date: Sep 2009

    Location: west mids, UK

    Posts: 3,268
    I'm Phil.

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    Excellent , nearly got a khozmo recently but not enough inputs . The freya has loads and several for too. Let me know when arrives and we can compare
    ou might slip, you might slide, you might
    Stumble and fall by the road side
    But don't you ever let nobody drag your spirit down
    Remember you're walking up to heaven

    Don't let nobody turn you around
    … Walk with the rich, walk with the poor
    Learn from everyone, that's what life is for
    And don't you let nobody drag your spirit down

    Eric Bibb

  7. #7
    Join Date: Jul 2017

    Location: Kent

    Posts: 550
    I'm Paul.

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    Quote Originally Posted by hifinutt View Post
    Excellent , nearly got a khozmo recently but not enough inputs . The freya has loads and several for too. Let me know when arrives and we can compare
    Phil, I'm having a BTE Designs preamp made up with a Khozmo stepped attenuator and you can have as many inputs and outputs as you wish.
    Current system:
    RPi + Allo Digione
    Beresford Caiman Seg & Dorado powered by 15v Linear PSU
    Transcendent Sound Mini Beast OTL
    Amptastic Mini-1
    Klipsch KG4.5 Speakers with Titanium Diagphrams and Sonicap Cap upgrade
    110aH Leisure Battery powers the Mini-1 & Digione

  8. #8
    Join Date: May 2008

    Location: A Strangely Isolated Place in Suffolk with Far Away Trains Passing By...

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    I'm David.

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    Please note that when passives work well, they're transparent to the source as long as the source output impedance is low and the amp input impedance fairly high, but some power amps don't like them and response errors and HUM can become an issue. Fancy attenuators tend to look and feel nice, but I'd check with a standard film pot first before shelling out hundreds on a posh Khozmo. It's not quite as cut-n-dried as it would seem and the pot value can make a difference to either source or the amp it's used with.
    Tear down these walls; Cut the ties that held me
    Crying out at the top of my voice; Tell me now if you can hear me

  9. #9
    Join Date: Jul 2017

    Location: Kent

    Posts: 550
    I'm Paul.

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    Hi David, so if enjoyed the sound of my Tisbury Passive much more than a recent active tube preamp I acquired and quickly moved on I might not necessarily enjoy the sound from my new BTE preamp? I've given Mr Cresswell details of my source and power amp equipment and he seemed to think it would work nicely. I must say I will be mightily disappointed if it doesn't at least match the Tizzy. My guess is that it will or at least I hope it will.
    Current system:
    RPi + Allo Digione
    Beresford Caiman Seg & Dorado powered by 15v Linear PSU
    Transcendent Sound Mini Beast OTL
    Amptastic Mini-1
    Klipsch KG4.5 Speakers with Titanium Diagphrams and Sonicap Cap upgrade
    110aH Leisure Battery powers the Mini-1 & Digione

  10. #10
    Join Date: Sep 2009

    Location: west mids, UK

    Posts: 3,268
    I'm Phil.

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    Thanks for those salient bits of advice . Not had passive amps for some years while using modwright. However rather attracted by the freya as has valve and passive options . There is not huge differences but the passive is deadly silent and valve stage occassionaly gives a small bit of hiss or noise depending on which system I am using it in
    ou might slip, you might slide, you might
    Stumble and fall by the road side
    But don't you ever let nobody drag your spirit down
    Remember you're walking up to heaven

    Don't let nobody turn you around
    … Walk with the rich, walk with the poor
    Learn from everyone, that's what life is for
    And don't you let nobody drag your spirit down

    Eric Bibb

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