Placette pre on the way...

steveinaz

My review here: http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=70446

Well, I'm a lazy slob. Missing my remote controlled volume, I started looking again for a preamp, but this time I wanted to go passive. I'm trying not to mess with success, and my thinking is passive will be the least intrusive.

Fast forward a few weeks later, I was researching all the regular suspects; Creek, Monolithic, Placette--the Monolithic is not remote controlled, scratch that one from the list. The Creek, while a good value, appears to have lackluster reviews...Nah, I'm not stepping backwards, my MF spoiled me pretty well. That left the Placette...

Damn that's alot of money for some wire and a couple RCA jacks. BUT, after researching and doing some reading the volume control setup, I was duly impressed. I only need 1 input, so I opted for the RVC. I could have done the larger unit, but $600 more for 2 additional inputs I won't use--no thanks. A grand is quite enough, thank you (too much).

FWIW, here's Stereophiles review: http://www.stereophile.com/amplificationreviews/604placette/index.html

So, I've got the Placette RVC coming. I've got 30 days to love or hate it, and Placette also gives you full trade-in value for an upgrade, so what's to lose (aside from a thousand bucks!@#$%^&amp.

Review to come in a few weeks....

ben62670

I thought I was ****:p Have you seen the project pre I am working on?
Ben

billbillw

What? No volume knob? Remote controlled or not, you have to have knobs

steveinaz

Actually the toggle switch on the front acts as a "manual" volume knob...

steveinaz

ben62670 wrote: »

I thought I was ****:p Have you seen the project pre I am working on?
Ben

I haven't seen your project. Thankfully, the MF A3CR sale financed a large portion of this venture. I have been wanting to go passive for quite awhile, but heard all the talk of loss of dynamics, too anemic, etc, etc. Supposedly Placette has addressed this...we'll see. If it doesn't work out, the Benchmark will go back into duty as the pre, and I'll ship this thing back. If this unit is as transparent as they say, it should translate the Benchmarks signature punch without a problem, and I'm quite certain the volume section (tracking, accuracy) is far better than the Benchmark's.

steveinaz

Just received an email from Guy Hammel (founder of Placette Audio) that my unit will ship tommorrow, and to "prepare myself for some incredible transparency." Now that's customer support!

ben62670

I went passive, and with a strong source it works great. I was thinking of doing this from my DAC, but as of last night I am going vinyl;)
Cheers
Ben

Early B.

Very nice. I'll be most interested in your review. I think you're gonna enjoy it. I went down the passive pre road and it was great. I guess we're both lazy because the lack of a remote was the main reason I sold it. Controlling volume is a vital aspect of music listening. If you gotta keep getting up from your seat to adjust the volume, it detracts from the experience, IMO.

ben62670

Guys I can make a passive Pre for you guys for about $350 with a remote, 4 sources, and one balanced in. All via remote.

Ben

steveinaz

Usually with music I set & forget the volume, but with movies/tv it's up & down all the time with variances in source volume--plus this gives me a wonderful excuse to try a passive.

I can hear Bev now..."..so how much did that box thingy cos.....err, nevermind, I don't want to know." LOL

steveinaz

ben62670 wrote: »

Guys I can make a passive Pre for you guys for about $350 with a remote, 4 sources, and one balanced in. All via remote.

Ben

[adam sandler voice] useful information, AN HOUR AGO...[/adam sandler voice]

LOL!

ben62670

Sorry man. I'll post pics when completed. I raped a satellite receiver box last night. So the case is not going to be pretty on mine, but if someone wants one I could do it in a nice hardwood with an anodized face plate, and rear cover.
Ben

steveinaz

Sounds cool--I'm really intriqued with this Vishay volume setup on the Placette.

reeltrouble1

Steve,

Well that was short. Like the others we will wait to see what you think. Although my BAT is not passive it does use the Vishay for the volume, I love the thing.

RT1

organ

That's awesome, Steve. I've gone passive as well. If your source is strong and the amps input being quite sensitive, you'll be in for a real treat. Like the e-mail you received, the transparency is really something with passives. The speakers tend to 'dissapear' more and the entire rig becomes very detailed. Hope you enjoy your new pre:cool:.

steveinaz

Latest email from Placette:

Stephen:

The passives showed up early today so yours will be in Today's FedEx pickup. I can't remember how many emails I've had that raved about the Benchmark DAC/ Placette combination. I haven't listened to one yet but some of these Placette users are people who can have any DAC (or Preamp) they want and swear by the Benchmark. I would expect you to get outstanding results with the RVC.

Best regards, Guy

organ

Looking good!

awe-d-o-file

I started with the RVC that you ordered. I bought mine used from A'gon. About a year later we took the three input/two output Placette "linestage" in trade and I got that and sold my RVC. Both are excellent and removed a "veil" from all the active preamps I used before. Which by the way were just attenuators. Plug your source into your amp and see how loud it is. Be careful you might blow something up. Anyway after a while my right side goes intermittent. I email Guy at Placette and he says " send it to me and I will fix it free. We have so few warranty claims its no problem." How's that for standing behind your product? His Vishay 127 step relay controlled resistor ladder is great. CJ uses that setup in their best preamps.

steveinaz

I've run my system direct before, CD to amp. Very neutral, plenty of output to drive the amp fully. It will be especially easy with the Benchmark doing the driving--it's analog stage is very robust.

ND13

Sweet!!!

I thought Idaho's only good export was taters.:p

steveinaz

I've already got a space cleared in the rack for this pup, can I tell I'm excited?

ben62670

Is it there yet?

steveinaz

No, Monday. Can you guess who took the day off?

tonyb

Atta Boy Steve.....can't wait for the review,though I am curious since you dug the MF so much,why not move up the line? Cost?? Probably eh?Nothin' puts you in a good mood like a new toy.

awe-d-o-file

the key with passive is high output low impedance sources and high impedance sensitive amps. My source 2.35VRMS out @ 50 ohms, my amps 100K input impedance, 1V for full output.

steveinaz

I have toyed with, and experimented with the idea for some time with mixed results. Like many others, when going straight CD to amp, the musical is very wonderfully neutral and spacious--but a bit lean and somewhat boring. Stepping it up a notch by using my Benchmark DAC in preamp mode, I am very pleased--but it lacks a little bit of that top-to-bottom neutrality/air a straight connection gives you.

Then, I'm seriously missing the remote volume feature from My MF A3CR. So here comes the Placette, which I have been watching at a distance for a couple years, and it appears I may be able to get 4 things out of the deal:

1. Remote capability
2. The air/neutrality of a passive
3. No loss of dynamics
4. An excellent tracking volume control

I'm good capatability wise, as I've done this before. The HCA is sensitive to input, and the Kimber Hero's feeding it are only .5 mtr. I think the Placette will also help compliment the punchy, visceral Benchmark DAC. I think the synergy between the 2 will be excellent.

Source specs (Benchmark DAC1): 2.0VRMS @ 30 ohms (calibratable, but this is the factory setting)
Amp (Parasound HCA-1500A): 1.2v for full output; 30k ohm input impedance

I've been doing this audio thing for about 35 years, and my gut feeling is...it's gonna frickin ROCK.

awe-d-o-file

Source specs (Benchmark DAC1): 2.0VRMS @ 30 ohms (calibratable, but this is the factory setting)
Amp (Parasound HCA-1500A): 1.2v for full output; 30k ohm input impedance


You saw my specs and they are a little more passive friendly. There are several CD's, probably 10-20% of my odd collection that with the Placette at full volume won't drive the amp to full power much less overdrive it. Most "commercial" music is not a problem. Sometimes, very very seldom, I wish I had more. But my hearing is better for not having it!

steveinaz

I never came close to approaching 3/4 knob level on the Parasound when running the CDP directly--the DAC1 is far more robust. Also, speaker efficiency is playing the biggest role in this scenario, and often overlooked. My speaks are rated at about 91dB/1w/1m. Remember--I'm not new at this.

Once I get the passive in place, I've got quite a few CD's that didn't suffer the mass compression/overly hot record levels of today, that I'll try. Toto "The Seventh One" comes to mind right away. On my active preamp, this CD required about 1:00 on the volume knob for relatively loud playback--where your typical modern day hot CD requires about 9:30 for the same output. The Toto CD will be a good test.

Last night I switched the DAC back into line level mode. Ran it directly to the amp. Listening to Steely Dan "2 Against Nature" at fairly loud volume, required about the 10:00 position on the amps volume pots. This recording falls somewhere in the middle on levels.

awe-d-o-file

oh so your amp has volume pots? When you get the Placette you can bypass them!

steveinaz

Oh yeah. I'd like to hardwire them one day since there always set at max anyway.

steveinaz

...anxiously tapping fingers on desk, waiting for the doorbell to ring...