[Big Red Machine]

Anybody use a Placette passive, either the Linestage or the Remote Volume Control?

I have been kicking it around for some time while considering the new Promethius active unit as well.

[Double Ugly]

I owned and used the RVC for years, and it's the only piece of gear I regret selling.  They aren't expensive, but they perform like they are. 

The actives are said to be even better, but I've only heard them at shows.

-Jim

[flintstone]

I've tried the Placette and Bent Audio passives in the past...both very good, but different sounding.

Midrange to die for from both, better bass from the Bent, more air from the Placette...I bought the Bent TVC.

That said, I didn't buy the Bent because I thought it sounded better...It was just a better fit for the Krell I owned at the time.

I've never heard the Placette active preamp...word is, it's even better than the passive. That would make it about "as good as it gets in my book".


Dave

[fly_fish_nz]

I owned the Placette RVC for a few years, tried the Promitheus in my system, and now own the Sonic Euphoria.  The Placette had great transparency but I in my system I needed to listen at louder levels to get dynamic impact.  The Sonic Euphoria has outstanding micro and macro dynamics, seemingly at all listening levels - very cool.  The Promitheus was very impressive for its price, though not quite the same level of performance as the other two to my ear.  A friend who heard all three, like the Placette and Promitheus, but went out and purchased a Sonic Euphoria the next day after he heard it.

[Big Red Machine]

I have a Sonic Euphoria and is pretty nice.  I actually think the Promitheus was slightly better when I had it except for the low gain.  I have considered another one with added gain, but keep hearing good things about the Placette as well.  Isn't the resistor setup of the Placette a much different animal than the transformer setup of the Promi?  I hear more cons against the resistor versions than pros anyways.

[denjo]

You might be interested in this post -


http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?rprea&1168233318

[Double Ugly]

Is the Tap still available, Dennis? 

I was under the impression recent events had essentially (completely?) brought production to a halt.

-Jim

[fly_fish_nz]

Isn't the resistor setup of the Placette a much different animal than the transformer setup of the Promi?  I hear more cons against the resistor versions than pros anyways.

They are quite a bit different, though I have heard technical arguements for and against both designs.  Even the Promitheus and the Sonic Euphoria differ, the SE based on an autoformer design.  Even though my friend and I prefered the Sonic Euphoria to the Placette and to the Promitheus (in that order), it does not surprice me that someone else would have a different ranking.  First, because system matching is more important than with an active, and second because the strengths are not exactly the same.  Stereophile did a review of the SE where the reviewer compared it with the Placette, noting better dynamics with the Sonic E and better transparency with the Placette RVC - observations with which I would agree.  Even though there are some trade-offs, all three strike me as great values.

[denjo]

Is the Tap still available, Dennis? 

I was under the impression recent events had essentially (completely?) brought production to a halt.

-Jim

Jim
Good question! When the news of S&B came about ceasing trans supplies to Bent Audio, John Chapman assured that existing orders (as of the date of the news) would be honoured, as well as future servicing of existing TAPs but he could no longer supply new orders with S&B transformers. At the moment he is looking for alternative supplies of the copper and silver transformers. You might want to ask John at his Circle if he has any updates.

[DeeCee]

I really like my Sonic Euphoria PLC... that being said, I find that at this level, it pretty much ALL
comes down to system matching, synergy and personal taste.

I didn't do much hunting - went with reviews (from folks who's ears matched with mine); all I knew
was the last time I heard a passive it was a notable difference in the fidelity of the sound (in my
current system the difference was not as extreme but still notable) - particularly in the
"3-dimensionality" of the images.

Some folks are bugged/turned on by one aspect of the sound produce in a system others by a
different aspect; this has to be taken in to account.

Happy Listening (hunting)!
- DeeCee

[rollo]

To date I have yet to hear a resistive based passive outperform any of the transformer based units. To my ears the resistive based units were threadbare in comparison.
        The Bent and Promitheus were about equal, maybe the Bent had a slight edge. Bang for the buck the Promitheus is a no brain er IMO.

   rollo

[lonewolfny42]

rollo/Charles...
I think at a future Rave (July-Aug.) we should compare the Promitheus to the Bent NOH ...
I think GHM/Gymane has been the only one to try both in his system.
Would interest me....both side by side...

                                        Chris

[NewBuyer]

To date I have yet to hear a resistive based passive outperform any of the transformer based units. To my ears the resistive based units were threadbare in comparison...

The TVC is really excellent, but I've finally conceded that the best sound I've ever heard in my system comes from using Endler Stepped Attenuators mounted directly on the amp inputs, fed by a Burson Buffer.

The Endlers are different from most passive solutions though - since they mount right on the amp input RCA's (NOT on the source output RCA's), and thus have no capacitance issues which would otherwise result from having to drive output cables. They also use only a single 4k resistor in line with the signal. But, you need to use a separate source-switcher if your system is multi-source.

If the Placette is as good of a match in my system as the Endlers, then it must be really nice indeed...