Bellari PP532 Passive Preamplifier, Red

Perfect. It's a complete passive preamp. It does NOT introduce any sound noise into the music system it connected too. Volume works perfectly as does the component selection. If you just have an amp and you want to connect components to it to listen to pure direct output then this is for you.

Great build quality and neutral sounding.

I purchased this so I could switch between a dedicated DAC and a Focusrite Scarlet (and yes, I know that is a DAC too). I wanted to use the dedicated DAC for music but the Focusrite for recording and playing guitar through my PC. The PP532 feeds into a Topping Headphone amp which, in turn, feeds to headphones or powered speakers.For this purpose it works fine and I can't tell if there is any signal or audio degradation. The case is well built (reasonably thick metal) and the volume and input switching knobs are fine. I think they are plastic but they don't seem flimsy. I don't hear any noise when switching inputs. I don't hear any noise with the volume but, for my purposes (since I use this mainly as a switcher), I just keep it at full.The red color is nice but it's not the same red as my Topping headphone amp or the Focusrite Scarlet (which match each other very well).I would purchase this again.

Update; 6/9/19. Volume pot finally broke in right and stopped making noise. No idea what or why but the unit now works perfectly. Can't complain it works 100% as designed, it does NOT introduce any noise in the system and the volume pot works well after a really long break in period.I really want to love this unit because it is solid and such a nice shade of red. It has so many inputs, it is very versatile and comes in at a really great price point. I have used it now continuously on my desktop for several months. The volume knob can be heard through my speakers when i adjust it as a grainy noise. I can remedy this when i crank the knob and use my amplifier volume knob to make adjustments but that defeats the purpose to having this handy volume control within reach and the amp out of the way. I deal with it because, yeah it’s red and i like the way it looks but eventually i will replace this unit with something else, someday.

This is a well made, American made, high quality passive preamp. I find the term preamp to be a bit misleading, because there is no amplification involved in this little unit. It simply manages up to four input sources, adds a volume control attenuator, and sends the completely unmodified signal to your power amp. No noise introduced at all. I prefer a minimalist setup, with three signal sources, this little unit, and a power amp. Works perfectly. Perhaps at $99 it is a bit more expensive than other offerings, but the quality is there, the unit is made by American craftsmen and women, and it feels almost patriotic to buy domestic. Highly recommended. Funky color, fire engine red, but it does get noticed!

I was excited for this device as I am starting to collect some DACs for desktop listening to various sources of digital Hi-Rez audio, as well as CD's, and LP's. The build quality is second to none, and it looks awesome sitting on the desk.HOWEVER:As soon as I plugged this "passive" pre-amp in to my existing setup, I could immediately tell it sounded different. BOOMING bass, flat mids, and absolutely the muddiest highs I've ever heard out of a supposed "passive" pre-amp. This thing sounds like absolute crap.Back to using a Schiit SYS as my desktop passive pre-amp. The SYS only has 2 inputs, but despite that fact, the Schiit SYS actually SOUNDS good.I'm honestly dumbfounded as to how a simple "passive" pre-amp can affect the quality of my music so definitively.Skip this piece of junk.

I rather pay another extra 100$ to get something that works. I just want a decent switcher that wont change my system. The volume control is pointless, I listen near field, pot volume control will cause unbalance left n right if the signal is too low. There is this thing - like a hidden veil that cover the dynamic and base. Nope, it is out and never again.Irony, I have only tested with Audioengine A5+ since my new speakers are preordered. The A5+, while excellent, is a still budget option and it could already show what this unit fails at.

My only issue, which I used a black marker to correct, is the indent to mark the selection on the knobs to mark indicating which position the preamp is in, is light or more difficult to see, especially when the lights are low (how I like to relax and listen to music) is more difficult to see as opposed to their black and white (also their Rolls division) products.Having said that, this is an inexpensive, well made all metal preamp, that seems to work well. I do prefer the metal knobs on their red and gold products as compared to their black and white products. It just overall feels well constructed.It's a simple, easy to use, passive preamp to hook up audio components.