Is there a better bargain than the $56 Nobsound Passive Preamp?

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ClefChef

This sounds a little confusing since you mention output impedance numbers then jump to input impedance, I assume for an amp. So to clarify, an 8-10K pot (or equivalent with Tortuga) is good for, but not limited to, 600-1k output impedance for low input impedance amps like say a 26k Class D. A 50k pot or equivalent is good for an amp that has ~47k input impedance, and a 100k pot for amps with even higher input impedances, typically tube amps.

Is this what you're saying?

In general terms, yes.

OzarkTom

Who da *** is Rex?

A friend I have known for 45 years. I first met him when I was in the audio business. He bought a pair of Futterman amps to run his Quad 63's. At one time, Rex owned stacked quads, Magnepans, Rethms, actually too many to remember. Rex has probably owned more audio equipment than anyone here. Or close to it. Rex loves remote control, but SQ always comes first. He said he could tape a long pole to the Nobsound volume control for his remote. Rex has owned passive preamps for at least the last 35 years. More than anyone else here?

Audio has been Rex's fiirst love and also a straight shooter. Any advice he has given me, I always take it to the bank. He has never been wrong.

The Nobound also beats his LDR Warp speed if anyone wants one. Are you interested in Rex's Tortuga?

ClefChef

Are you interested in Rex's Tortuga?

Nope. I built dozens of Tortugas over the years. It is excellent with tube amplifiers, none of which I own at the time.

wushuliu

My buddy Norm says that's a good question.

Ok, that made me laugh for a good minute.

(sorry Tom!)


sumoking

  • Jr. Member
  • Posts: 229
Nobsound also makes this XLR splitter.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D7P7366/ref=twister_B07G525RS7?_encoding=UTF8&th=1

Yes, but I need two XLR outputs in parallel. I believe
That the device you sent me has a switch and one xlr works or the other  xlr
Works... correct?
Thank you.

OzarkTom

Ok, that made me laugh for a good minute.

(sorry Tom!)

LOL

Sorry, no more Rex stories.

OzarkTom

I would offer some technical details regarding "passive" preamps.

The major function of a preamp is to even out output impedance and to drive interconnect cables between preamp and your amplifier. Believe it or not, those interconnects act as a sort of capacitor which, coupled with output and input impedance, forms a variable RC filter that may affect frequency response in extreme cases of impedance mismatch.

A volume pot with no driving buffer followed by a shielded interconnect of significant length may impact sound quality, especially if source output impedance is high enough and amp input impedance is low enough, such as in most solid state gear.

Tortuga offers "constant impedance" volume control of around 8-10k that requires output impedance of around 600ohm-1kOhm to drive a typical 26k input stage. 50k pot requires 47k input impedance at minimum, 100k pot is only suitable for tube amplifiers.

Skeptical? So was Rex a friend. It took him three months before he bought a Nobsound.

smata67

  • Jr. Member
  • Posts: 72

A better bargain?  Who's to say.  But at $3.97, it performs the same function and might be worth a shot.  You could also put a DACT attenuator into it for $20 and still be ahead.

LINK
« Last Edit: 3 Jan 2019, 05:08 am by ServerAdmin »

ClefChef

Skeptical? So was Rex a friend. It took him three months before he bought a Nobsound.

And may happiness be upon you both

OzarkTom

Just iin case $56 is too cheap for people to buy, this looks like a must have for me that I just now found. A custom made remote passive for $248. Best deal I have found on the internet so far.

https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis9997h-idiom-sspp-1-solid-state

sumoking

  • Jr. Member
  • Posts: 229
Thank you!
What is the significance/value of a shunt ?

JohnR

It's a way of wiring an attenuator, done from scratch it's cheaper than a ladder but still has just two resistors in the signal path - see http://www.goldpt.com/attenuator_types.html

You can wire a series attenuator as the shunt element, some claim it sounds better. See Figure 4 here: http://www.moxtone.com/O_stupnjevitom_atenuatoru_2.htm (sorry, that schematic is somewhat complicated, haven't yet found a diagram for the basic connection)


OzarkTom


RDavidson

  • Full Member
  • Posts: 2863
It's a way of wiring an attenuator, done from scratch it's cheaper than a ladder but still has just two resistors in the signal path - see http://www.goldpt.com/attenuator_types.html

You can wire a series attenuator as the shunt element, some claim it sounds better. See Figure 4 here: http://www.moxtone.com/O_stupnjevitom_atenuatoru_2.htm

What you're describing is essentially what Luminous Audio has been doing for a few years now, right? I haven't heard one of these Axiom preamps, but it makes sense it would work well...especially since they match the resistor value to work with the customer's system, on an individual basis (ie the right way).
https://luminousaudio.com/collections/axiom-ii-passive-preamp

JohnR

It's been around for ages. Although what I was really trying to describe is doing it with a stepped series attenuator, not with a potentiometer. A manufacturer wouldn't (I hope) do it (with a stepped series attenuator) but it's useful for a DIYer because you can use off-the-shelf stepped attenuators.

JohnR

it's useful for a DIYer because you can use off-the-shelf stepped attenuators.

I should add "cheap" there, as these days if you are more upmarket in your attenuator selection you can buy shunt attenuators off the shelf eg khozmo.

wushuliu

Just iin case $56 is too cheap for people to buy, this looks like a must have for me that I just now found. A custom made remote passive for $248. Best deal I have found on the internet so far.

https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis9997h-idiom-sspp-1-solid-state

Looks nice but if wanting a remote I'd be more inclined to skip the motorized alps and go for one of the PGA2310/11 preamps:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/hifi-PGA2311-Stero-Remote-Volume-Controller-audio-Preamp-pre-amplifier-with-MUTE-/142620463324

They eliminate a physical pot altogether and I was impressed with mine (granted, I modded it of course). I compared with the chinese DACT and the DACT was only a little better. Lot of cheap preamp options out there!



OzarkTom

Looks nice but if wanting a remote I'd be more inclined to skip the motorized alps and go for one of the PGA2310/11 preamps:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/hifi-PGA2311-Stero-Remote-Volume-Controller-audio-Preamp-pre-amplifier-with-MUTE-/142620463324

They eliminate a physical pot altogether and I was impressed with mine (granted, I modded it of course). I compared with the chinese DACT and the DACT was only a little better. Lot of cheap preamp options out there!

Thanks for sharing this. It sure beats the Axiom II price, but that will probably be my last passive. Thanks RDavidson for sharing the Axiom II link.

If everyone could hear a CD player direct into their amp, they would be shocked. I will never understand why people buy an expensive DAC with remote volume, and run it through a preamp.

So how much would your mod cost?

When I was running my CD player straight in to the Berning amp, another dealer friend from Iowa stopped in for a visit. He was surprised at the sound I was getting out of my system.
« Last Edit: 3 Jan 2019, 01:05 pm by OzarkTom »

navi

Thanks for sharing this. It sure beats the Axiom II price, but that will probably be my last passive. If everyone could hear a CD player direct into their amp, they would be shocked. I will never understand why people buy an expensive DAC with remote volume, and run it through a preamp.

So how much would your mod cost?

When I was running my CD player straight in to the Berning amp, another dealer friend from Iowa stopped in for a visit. He was surprised at the sound I was getting out of my system.

I've run a phono pre amp into a active near field with gain adjustment in the back. it didn't go down low enough but it was the best sound i have heard from the turntable/phono pre.

Yes to bypass all the cables and components makes a difference.




RE: Chinese DACT attenuator copies: I have tried a  10K version and while it is good it still didn't beat the slagle/intact audio autoformer  it did sound just as good as an active pre.