[jtwrace]

I would have to mildly disagree with this comment.  I currently am using a Bent Audio TAP passive pre (Ted_b's unit) with my NCores and believe me when I say that I have dynamics in spades and yet the TAP has an incredible transparancy to it as well.  However, the TAP or the newer TAP-X should not be part of this discussion about inexpensive preamps!! 

I recently bought an Exasound E20 DSD capable DAC and was VERY impressed with the E20's volume control.

Regards,

Randy

So you are not using the TAP with the E20?  Or....?

[rklein]

So you are not using the TAP with the E20?  Or....?

Jason:

I have not yet received the E20.  It should be arriving any day now.  I had the opportunity to demo the E20 when Ted brought Mike Eastman's unit down to my house.  We ran it with and without the TAP in the chain.  Where the TAP made a substantial difference with the Mytek, it did not (to my ears) make a difference with the E20.  Ted likes running the E20 through a pre.  As I stated in his review thread, he also has a mega buck pre in his Concert Fidelity.  In the short time I listened, the VC in the E20 more than held its own against the TAP.  However, once I get the E20, I will have more than a couple of hours to A/B it with and without the TAP.

Regards,

Randy

[walkern]

If you are interested in an LDR based volume control you may wanna check this out:  http://www.buildanamp.com/Assembled-Lighter-Note-Built-Kit.htm
Same guy offers a kit for $130 if you wanna DIY.  I've been using an older Lightspeed LDR volume control in front of my class D amp for quite some time, and have no complaints. 
I've also built a couple of Pass B1s, and I must say they can sound terrific depending on the volume control you opt for.

Neil

[wroman214]

There is a difference between passive and no gain.  I had a B-1 and needs real matching to amp-not best with the First Watt F3 in my system.
What about Bottlehead Foreplay?

[Folsom]

If you are interested in an LDR based volume control you may wanna check this out:  http://www.buildanamp.com/Assembled-Lighter-Note-Built-Kit.htm
Same guy offers a kit for $130 if you wanna DIY.  I've been using an older Lightspeed LDR volume control in front of my class D amp for quite some time, and have no complaints. 
I've also built a couple of Pass B1s, and I must say they can sound terrific depending on the volume control you opt for.

Neil

Wow that looks great. Hell I might have to put two of his resistors into my Bugle (the input resistors directly from turntable, that feed straight into the opamp).

Do LDR block DC naturally?