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AUDIO FORUMS >> General Discussion and Support >> Passive preamps murdering sound stage?
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Message started by hells on 06/03/20 at 17:55:13

Title: Passive preamps murdering sound stage?
Post by hells on 06/03/20 at 17:55:13

Hey all,

I decided to try a Tisbury Passive Preamp, and just took receipt of it earlier. It's exhibiting the same issue I had with my other preamp that had a passive mode (Schiit Freya S) in that it just destroys the soundstage. Everything becomes centered, even on excellent recordings that when going directly to the amp produce a wonderfully large sound stage (Bubbles by Yosi Horikawa, Well, You Needn't by Thelonius Monk Septet). The Freya S in active mode restored most of the sound stage, but not quite as good as direct to the amp.

The amp right now is the SE84UFO as I await the Torii Jr from the mothership to arrive in my home. Has anybody experienced this?

- Brandon

Title: Re: Passive preamps murdering sound stage?
Post by hells on 06/03/20 at 18:01:52

Annnd figured it out! It was my Y cable splitting from the output to my subwoofer. Wow...all this pain for something so simple.

Title: Re: Passive preamps murdering sound stage?
Post by HockessinKid on 06/03/20 at 19:14:22

You might want to check the polarity of the preamp. Try switching the + and - wires on your speaker terminal connections. See your soundstage improves.

HK

Title: Re: Passive preamps murdering sound stage?
Post by hells on 06/03/20 at 19:53:48

No the polarity is correct, the y adaptor was bridging the preamp into mono on all outputs lol. I was taking the L + R of the output into a single female connector going to my sub. Now it's just the L output going to it and all is well.

Title: Re: Passive preamps murdering sound stage?
Post by Lin on 06/03/20 at 22:50:07

What sub did you get?

Title: Re: Passive preamps murdering sound stage?
Post by hells on 06/03/20 at 22:51:02

Rythmik F12SE XLR3 (default option)

Title: Re: Passive preamps murdering sound stage?
Post by Lin on 06/03/20 at 23:05:13

You have HT and music 2 ch combined?

Title: Re: Passive preamps murdering sound stage?
Post by hells on 06/03/20 at 23:08:16

No, this sub is used for music with my Omega's. It adds quite a bit of extension when matched properly (https://www.audiocheck.net/audiotests_subwooferkicktest.php helps with that!) just getting line out to it is a PITA.

Title: Re: Passive preamps murdering sound stage?
Post by Lin on 06/03/20 at 23:27:39

It doesn't have L and R rca inputs?

Title: Re: Passive preamps murdering sound stage?
Post by hells on 06/03/20 at 23:30:56

It does, I just had one good RCA subwoofer cable from Bluejeans atm. When I get the second I'll add that input. But finding nice passive preamps with 2 rca out at the same time was the issue :D but that search is over now.

Title: Re: PasNosive preamps murdering sound stage?
Post by Lin on 06/03/20 at 23:36:42

I assume no speaker level inputs?
How about something like this?
https://www.crutchfield.com/S-fv11942biRW/p_543ADP12/Russound-ADP-1-2-Speaker-level-to-Line-level-Adapter.html

Title: Re: Passive preamps murdering sound stage?
Post by hells on 06/03/20 at 23:42:19

I have output now :D Maybe in the future if I switch setups I can look into something like that.

Thanks!

Title: Re: Passive preamps murdering sound stage?
Post by Lin on 06/03/20 at 23:49:38

Some like to drive the sub amp from the outputs of the speaker amp. ;)
With all the gizmos on your sub maybe it would not matter. :)

Passive preamps usually work best with short cables.

Title: Re: Passive preamps murdering sound stage?
Post by gsanger on 06/04/20 at 04:20:32

Glad you got it sorted out! I’ve had the Tisbury preamp on my list for a while - mind if I ask what you think of it?

Title: Re: Passive preamps murdering sound stage?
Post by BillW on 06/04/20 at 15:18:57

@hells, ditto on what @gsanger asked. Thoughts and impressions of that new preamp in your system?

Title: Re: Passive preamps murdering sound stage?
Post by hells on 06/04/20 at 19:56:01

Hey guys, I've had it for a little more than 24 hours now. About 6 hours of listening in that time, so grain of salt ;)

I find it transparent. It added literally nothing to my system, which is exactly what I wanted. My soundstage is great, detail is the same, etc. It did what it said on the tin. I won't lie and say I'm not interested in Tortuga's LDR based one still, but that's a different day (so I keep telling myself :D)

I can recommend the Tisbury one. It's really nice, feels like British HiFi in looks as well. I like it a lot :)

Title: Re: Passive preamps murdering sound stage?
Post by JKC on 06/06/20 at 20:47:54

I have the Tisbury pre as well and it’s a nice little piece of kit. It’s not in use at the moment but comes in handy sometimes as it’s quite flexible given the toggle switches. Works great as a switchbox or if you need a few more inputs, and I like the option of adding attenuation.

Title: Re: Passive preamps murdering sound stage?
Post by SShular on 05/04/22 at 20:01:17

Hey there all. Well I'm still about 6 months away from my SE84UFO2 but already researching how I might set it up.
As I would like more than 2 inputs I could use one of my existing pre-amps (Hafler DH100, Carver C1) but I also don't want to deteriorate the sound any.

The Tisbury Passive Pre has been of interest to me for a long time and maybe now is the time. Now that you've used it for some time what are your thoughts. Do you still find it transparent? Welcome any feedback.
[smiley=dankk2.gif]

Title: Re: Passive preamps murdering sound stage?
Post by chapsjon on 05/04/22 at 20:13:40

I have no experience with the Tisbury. If you aren't looking to ride the gain and only want more inputs, you might consider the Decware Switchbox. Hopefully other could provide a comparison, but I have to assume it is Decware approved....