Passive Preamp Revelation

[admin_exported]

Just a word of warning (in the manner of Keith from 'The Office') - throw away your active preamp and get yourself a passive amp IF (big IF) your power amp is sensitive enough to seize the output from your CD player or whichever source you are using (my Prima Luna Prologue Four is such a sensitive flower, along some of the Quad and Leak according to Icon Audio website) . I have used very high quality solid state for the last year, as well as a very accomplished valve preamp. However nothing can compare to this level of detail, soundstage and transparency. Obviously, the signal is very unadulterated because it is so direct, free from any interference from unnecessary amplification tha colours and inevitably deteriorates the signal (even if you spend a fortune on a preamp, it will be 'less good' than the signal from a good cd player like an Arcam cd192). I am using a pair of Chord Chamaleon from source to preamp and anothe rpair from passive preamp to th epower amp. The improvement is not subtle, it is simply stunning. Now I feel i'm getting everything I could from my proac D15. What is ironic is that you could be improving your system whilst saving serious money (good passive amps cost about £250). I wish I knew this combo years ago, I would have always used just a mediator between the source (passive amp is really a bit of wire with gain really) and a good valve power amp. Simple, so so so good...have a go and you'll be surprised...

Proac D15, Arcam CD 192 (transport)-M Fidelity VDac, Prima Luna Prologue 4, Icon Audio passive preamp, Chord chameleon interconnects and QED Revelation (lower register) mixed with Chord Silverscreen (upper Register).

 

[lordmortlock]

Interesting - theres been a bit of talk about passive pres here recently. What put you on to the Icon?

 

[Anonymous]

i had been looking for valve amps for a few months and noticed that the icon audio had got extremely good reviews (you really get a lot for the money). i ended up purchasing the AL3 preamp, but it did not agree with my prima luna. I called Icon A and spoke to David Shaw (the founder). He inquired about the sensitivity of the prima luna, and concluded that it was far too sensitive for the Icon's output. David therefore reccommended a passive preamp. I went for it. I chose Icon Audio for the reviews and the sheer look of the amps. Th efact that the owner of such a successful company is willing to advise you with such detail (sometimes spending half an hour on the phone) only shows how passionate and dedicated some people can be in this industr. A pleasure to deal with really.

 

[jaxwired]

I like the looks of this one. It's passive until you need more gain, then it's active... Sounds like the best of both worlds.

http://www.wyred4sound.com/webapps/site/74030/117839/shopping/shopping-view.html?pid=335184&b_id=&find_groupid=17873

 

[Anonymous]

I have resurrected my QED MA34 passive pre to go with my newly aquired quads....OK so theres only one variable input but thats all I need for now. Works a treat. Nothing in there except a selector switch and an alps volume pot......cant see how it can get any simpler.........

 

[lordmortlock]

jaxwired:
I like the looks of this one. It's passive until you need more gain, then it's active... Sounds like the best of both worlds.

http://www.wyred4sound.com/webapps/site/74030/117839/shopping/shopping-view.html?pid=335184&b_id=&find_groupid=17873

Nice - but nice price though too Jax. £1,000 in my money - The Icon is only £250

 

[Frank Harvey]

Wow!! Passive Pre's! There's a blast from the past! These were all the rage 15/20 years ago and have been a little quiet since......was once heralded as the upgrade of the "tweaker" - once you were in the realms of passive pre-amps, you were rather close to turning your speakers to face the wall, storing CD's in freezers, and snipping the corners off your vinyl albums

 

[Anonymous]

FrankHarveyHiFi:Wow!! Passive Pre's! There's a blast from the past! These were all the rage 15/20 years ago and have been a little quiet since......was once heralded as the upgrade of the "tweaker" - once you were in the realms of passive pre-amps, you were rather close to turning your speakers to face the wall, storing CD's in freezers, and snipping the corners off your vinyl albums

Same as anything I think......keep it long enough and it will come back into fashion.....as they say, newest isnt always best.......

 

[Anonymous]

I've heard it from a few sources that passive pres lack dynamics and can sound a bit flat compared to some actives. It's the "old colour is good sometimes" argument.

 

[lordmortlock]

FrankHarveyHiFi:Wow!! Passive Pre's! There's a blast from the past! These were all the rage 15/20 years ago and have been a little quiet since......was once heralded as the upgrade of the "tweaker" - once you were in the realms of passive pre-amps, you were rather close to turning your speakers to face the wall, storing CD's in freezers, and snipping the corners off your vinyl albums

Lol not a big fan then?

 

[Anonymous]

igglebert:I've heard it from a few sources that passive pres lack dynamics and can sound a bit flat compared to some actives. It's the "old colour is good sometimes" argument.

except if you power amp is a valve unit, in which case the warmth, colour and all that is there

 

[Anonymous]

Interesting point. I must get one at some point!

 

[Dan Turner]

A very timely thread for me. I've had an eye open for one of the Creek passive pre-amp models thinking I'd take a punt if one came up on ebay, but it's good to know there's another highliy recommended option at reasonable money.

Any thoughts on how well the Icon (or the Creek if anyone knows) would get along with a couple of Arcam P35 power amps bi-amping?

 

[Anonymous]

Dan Turner:
A very timely thread for me. I've had an eye open for one of the Creek passive pre-amp models thinking I'd take a punt if one came up on ebay, but it's good to know there's another highliy recommended option at reasonable money.

Any thoughts on how well the Icon (or the Creek if anyone knows) would get along with a couple of Arcam P35 power amps bi-amping?

all depends on the arcam's sensitivity...ask David Shaw on Icon audio!

 

[Thaiman]

Music first passive are pretty decent and Django also not far behide (very similar), value for money alone, they make a lot of sense.

 

[Anonymous]

It was quite common in the 70's and 80's for amplifier line level inputs to go direct to the Volume control, if the tone circuits could be by-passed, before being passed to the power stage. Apart from any input selection purely passive!

 

[Anonymous]

Thaiman:Music first passive are pretty decent and Django also not far behide (very similar), value for money alone, they make a lot of sense.

I love it when Thaiman posts.........This guy knows his stuff and always puts forward some of the best (although most expensive) options.

Looking at the Music First pre........I am still drooling.........

Good man.....more HiFi porn.......love it.