Fretbuzz
pfm Member
I recently tried removing the (cheap, passive) preamp from the chain and it sounded quite a bit better. More air and extension, quite a surprise. System is now Node 2i > 2Qute > M2 clone (all the 2s! Just realised....anyway)
So it’s just using the volume on the Node which a) I found sounded no worse than having it set to max output and using the passive attenuation, and b) found, only recently, that you can do by programming an old remote control into the Node (much nicer than using a phone for changing volume and skipping tracks).
Thing is the passive sounded worse than the Croft pre it replaced (more lively and full with the Croft), and sounds worse than it not being there. Croft now sold so can’t compare it to no pre.
I think my questions are:
a. Can a passive ever sound better than it not being there? All else equal.
b. Have any Bluesound compared using its volume to various preamps, with/without additional DACs? If so which and what results would be interesting to hear.
c. Or compared to integrated amps for SQ/volume use, some of which will have a passive pre section.
So it’s just using the volume on the Node which a) I found sounded no worse than having it set to max output and using the passive attenuation, and b) found, only recently, that you can do by programming an old remote control into the Node (much nicer than using a phone for changing volume and skipping tracks).
Thing is the passive sounded worse than the Croft pre it replaced (more lively and full with the Croft), and sounds worse than it not being there. Croft now sold so can’t compare it to no pre.
I think my questions are:
a. Can a passive ever sound better than it not being there? All else equal.
b. Have any Bluesound compared using its volume to various preamps, with/without additional DACs? If so which and what results would be interesting to hear.
c. Or compared to integrated amps for SQ/volume use, some of which will have a passive pre section.