Passive Pre with a CB 250

Mind sharing which pre you are using?

Am I allowed? 

Exposure 2010S2 integrated (pre out) straight into the 250. XLR to 2RCA.

Are you sure that's passive?

I tried a passive pre-amp on my CB NAP250 - I really didn't like it.  So I'm quite curious about how your results were so different.

If a passive driven 250 sound like an integrated, shouldn't that mean you are not exploiting all the possibilities of your amplifier?

Most Naimees know that a 5i-2 sounds like top of the line Naim--minus the power. The 32.5 Hicap DR sounds raw,hashy,shouty,creamy,explosive..which is musical...but the passive makes the amp sound transparent,flat,neutral,with a slightly wider deeper soundstage. A bit veiled at low low volume but superb when turned up with far less glare. I am really taken aback at how good it is. I feel less fatigue when listening with the passive.

Just ran into this bit of info : A point to be aware of, though: Although the signal path through the preamp section of the Exposure to its own amplifier section is passive, its pre-outs are driven by an integrated circuit chip, probably an "op amp" (operational amplifier), which provides a low output impedance and approximately 18 db of gain. So you are not truly using a passive preamp in the configuration you describe.

Interesting findings mikeybaby. I demo'd the higher powered Exposure 3010S2 for a few days in my system. Highly musical with the sweetest, purest top end I've heard from any of the half-dozen integrateds I've had home. For me the Exposure was overall too laid-back, lacking speed and attack, and I felt it really didn't hit with its stated watts. Perhaps you've found a magic combination with a vintage Naim amp. Enjoy!

Probably preferring the Exposure at the moment due to room acoustics. I suspect the Naim will trounce it in a proper setting.