Affordable TVC preamp options?

A question for the experts here. I have in front of me a wall mounted remote speaker volume control. It was a two dollar thrift store purchase. The control consists of a 10 position switch, a pair of autoformers and stereo input/output terminals. Clearly this item lacks the number of steps of volume control and the audiophile approved components of the Dave Slagle devices. Could it still be used as a passive preamp?

John

IIRC, Joe recommended the Atlas Sound AT100's. I have 4 or so of them, and have used them in crossovers, in place of an L-pad. They work quite well in that capacity. I've not tried them as source level attenuators, I don't think they would work well there.
 
This arrived the other day. I haven't had a chance to listen to it yet but the construction is very solid. I'll just use inputs 1 and 3 until I get used to it. That way I can use #2 as a sort of disconnect. Time to dig out the ST-70.
 
Interested to hear your feedback. Looks like another is up on the bay. I am happy with my Freya but would not mind trying these special auto former laden units.
 
I've looked at Dave's website and I just see the autoformers. Does anyone know if he still makes preamps?
 
I had a Django TVC for a fair while. It only worked for me because it had a 6db lift option. However my Grounded Grid always sounded that bit more dynamic ( for want of a better word ) so I let it go to a good friend. His Papworth valve amps seem more sensitive than my Jolidas and the Django works very well in his system. He finds the quietness impressive after his rather noisy active preamp.
 
I just realized I never gave my impressions. Wow! This things sounds like nothing. It neither adds nor subtracts from the music. It's almost as if this thing had a dozen or so tone controls and variable loudness that automatically adjusts itself to perfect. Low level listening is superb. The music is not sterile or anemic which was my main concern. At higher levels there is no noise or mid-bass hump that I had apparently grown accustomed to without noticing.
 
I just realized I never gave my impressions. Wow! This things sounds like nothing. It neither adds nor subtracts from the music. It's almost as if this thing had a dozen or so tone controls and variable loudness that automatically adjusts itself to perfect. Low level listening is superb. The music is not sterile or anemic which was my main concern. At higher levels there is no noise or mid-bass hump that I had apparently grown accustomed to without noticing.
You just wanted to make sure it was broken in. After 15 months I think you’re there!
 
Actually I'm going off of memory. It's currently not connected. The phono stage I was using forgot the lyrics and started to hum so I went back to a modded CJ PV3 pre.
 
Actually I'm going off of memory. It's currently not connected. The phono stage I was using forgot the lyrics and started to hum so I went back to a modded CJ PV3 pre.
This is the same reason my Slagle preamp is currently sidelined. There was some hum picked up through the phono stage that was audible, even with other sources selected.

I swapped on the Bottlehead BeePre and didn’t have anywhere near the same degree of hum and none with other sources selected. I thought it was just my own experience till reading this…
 
This is the same reason my Slagle preamp is currently sidelined. There was some hum picked up through the phono stage that was audible, even with other sources selected.

I swapped on the Bottlehead BeePre and didn’t have anywhere near the same degree of hum and none with other sources selected. I thought it was just my own experience till reading this…
Slip those Slage’s into your BeePre and let me know how it sounds;)
 
I had an opposite hum experience with my slagleformer pre. The degree of galvanic isolation provided by the transformers cited a hum is been fighting for two years.

I hope it works out in my new system. It and it’s accompanying amp will be taking on my Luxman L507u.
 
The hum is definately the fault of the phono pre. I have another stand alone unit but have the walwart. The CJ has a phono stage.
 
Anyone used one fo the Tribute "Inductive Volume Controls"? I've got an upcoming amp project rounding completion with a 247kohm input impedance (and high gain) along with my Audial S5 DAC's analog outputs set for 3.5ohms (cap coupled) and 30ohm (transformer coupled) I figured now's the best chance I've got to actually fully realize the capabilities of a passive preamp. I don't know why but something really pulled me towards the Tribute model so I pulled the trigger. It'll be a few weeks till it's completed and makes its way to my builder, then maybe another few weeks from there. Hopefully the wait won't be too long!
 
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