I have experimented with passives quite a bit (Placette, Creek, EVS Ultimate Attenuators, home-made, etc.), but was never able to really replace my preamp. The slight sound improvement (if any) just didn't justify giving up the convenience of a preamp. Then a few months ago I purchased a used Bent Audio Tap-X TVC. Holy shamoly! Using it resulted in a sense of ease and smoothness that I found beguiling. After much comparison with my Foreplay III I settled on the Tap-X in my system (please don't ban me from this board - I know it's heresy). As I understand it, this might not work for everyone, depending on the gear involved, but going from a Wavelength Brick (tube) to my Paramounts I am completely satisfied at this time. Bent no longer sells the Tap-X, but they appear to still sell the parts necessary to make one. Call or email John Chapman and ask him - he's a very nice guy. Oh yeah, the Tap-X has remote volume and balance.
PC, J River software, opticaRendu, Schitt Ygg DAC,Tortuga Pre, Torta Radu tube buffer, Linear Tube Audio ZOTL10, Spatial Audio X5w/pair of GR Research dual 12" open baffle servo subwoofers tamed by DSpeaker Dual-Core DSP , Audience AU24 SE spkr cable, handmade silver interconnects,
