Goldpoint SA4M-47 passive 'preamp' winging its way to Marco Towers...

[The Black Adder]

yep, a well designed active shouldn't add glare or detract too much from the signal just as much as a well designed passive shouldn't do the latter. Personally I like both. It would be great to have a pre that you could switch from active to passive with... That would be great because I'd expect that some music would suit better through different methods.

[walpurgis]

that leads to fanciful ideas such as cables having sonic signatures.

Not wishing to get into another circular debate about cables, but what are you saying?

[Stratmangler]

Not wishing to get into another circular debate about cables, but what are you saying?

I didn't say that cables don't matter

[awkwardbydesign]

I understand fully what was intended to be conveyed.
That the passive doesn't take much away from the signal is a given, but it wasn't put that way. The way things were put was arse about face, and that leads to fanciful ideas such as cables having sonic signatures.
It isn't a given that active preamps add glare - it depends on how well designed they are. I've heard a few that pass muster, and Marco's is one of them.

But if you subscribe to the idea (as I do) that every component, including cables, causes harm, then cables WILL have a sonic signature. It's simply that some cause less harm than others. and the same will be true of pre-amps. Now, a component can also add something, but that will be an unnatural effect; if it sounds better to you then it's a good thing- for you! But everyone has different hearing (in a measurable way) plus we all listen differently which will affect what we hear. How many of us don't hear our partners say something we don't want to hear?

[struth]

Being old and toothless i like to process the hell out of my signal.. My poor cd stuff gets shunted here there and everywhere...im surprised it sounds so good actually. Moral is if youve got everything close to right it wont matter much but if somethi!gs wrong even a short run can screw it up.

[awkwardbydesign]

yep, a well designed active shouldn't add glare or detract too much from the signal just as much as a well designed passive shouldn't do the latter. Personally I like both. It would be great to have a pre that you could switch from active to passive with... That would be great because I'd expect that some music would suit better through different methods.

I recently borrowed an Albarry PP1 integrated amplifier which has a switch for source or +16. I didn't realise at the time that meant passive (source) or active (+16) so I never tried it active! But it sounded nice passive. I will see if I can borrow it again, but I think it may have gone.
Oh, and it can be used as a pre! http://theartofsound.net/forum/showt...Albarrys/page2

BTW, I liked the look of it so I have bought some red Perspex to make a front panel for my LDR pre.

[Macca]

But if you subscribe to the idea (as I do) that every component, including cables, causes harm, then cables WILL have a sonic signature. It's simply that some cause less harm than others. and the same will be true of pre-amps. Now, a component can also add something, but that will be an unnatural effect; if it sounds better to you then it's a good thing- for you!

Agreed. The great sound is inherent to the disc/file. The only thing the kit can do is screw it up. There are no great sounding components, they all ruin the sound to some degree.

[awkwardbydesign]

Agreed. The great sound is inherent to the disc/file. The only thing the kit can do is screw it up. There are no great sounding components, they all ruin the sound to some degree.

I don't look at it that way. It will CHANGE it, but some changes sound* better.
* I don't claim they measure better, but subjectively it might be preferable. And that is where all the arguments start.

[Jimbo]

But if you subscribe to the idea (as I do) that every component, including cables, causes harm, then cables WILL have a sonic signature. It's simply that some cause less harm than others. and the same will be true of pre-amps. Now, a component can also add something, but that will be an unnatural effect; if it sounds better to you then it's a good thing- for you! But everyone has different hearing (in a measurable way) plus we all listen differently which will affect what we hear. How many of us don't hear our partners say something we don't want to hear?

Very well put Richard. I agree totally!

[The Black Adder]

I recently borrowed an Albarry PP1 integrated amplifier which has a switch for source or +16. I didn't realise at the time that meant passive (source) or active (+16) so I never tried it active! But it sounded nice passive. I will see if I can borrow it again, but I think it may have gone.
Oh, and it can be used as a pre! http://theartofsound.net/forum/showt...Albarrys/page2

BTW, I liked the look of it so I have bought some red Perspex to make a front panel for my LDR pre.

I for one have never seen one of those before... looks interesting. You should try and give it another go for sure.