Your experience with a passive preamp (various configurations from $2K to $8K USD) vs. EMM Labs ($50K USD) demonstrates that there are many other variables to consider beyond cost. Based on what you've written, you could probably "sacrifice" the additional $45K USD for an EMM Labs and be very happy with the Hathor. Imagine freeing up $45K to experiment with other components in your system. Geez, that's unimaginable for many of us.
I'm not surprised that power cords make a sonic difference with your passive preamp. Intuitively, it doesn't make sense, but the only thing that matters is that everything matters, and we don't need to know why.
Hello Hearly,
Actually, the Emm Labs preamp had a list price of $25,000 when it was first introduced. I don't know the American price, but I do know the European one. I bought it used, so it cost significantly less. However, I agree with you that the price difference is significant, while the sonic difference isn't that great!
I believe, however, that mine is a mature, well-assembled system that I've been working on for years, and the care and good interfacing of the whole thing also helps me do well by using good-quality, but not top-of-the-line, components. The fact remains that both the MFA, which is still quite expensive for a passive preamp, and the current Hattor, have made me appreciate a different approach to the presence of a preamp in an audio system. I consider it essential for numerous reasons, but with such a well-tuned source that outputs at a high voltage, and speakers with such generous and easy-to-drive parameters, a valid passive preamp is also a good choice.
Best regards, Dario
