I’d be inclined to get one of each. Unfortunately that’s exactly the kind of thinking that’s going to necessitate a conversation re “the benefits of community college”.
Do you own a balance power amp?
Yes, a Constellation Stereo 1 fully balanced inputs. So it seems a Townsend Allegri Reference using XLR connectors from the Rossini and to the Constellation is the way to go for best SQ?
Why don’t you try it straight to the amp for a bit? My Rossini is 10 days old and sounds absolutely amazing compared to my previous Bartok. Doubt I’d miss the 1% improvement a preamp might provide. After you get accustomed to the sound you’d be in a better position to demo preamps. Some prefer no pre but most, from my limited experience, insist a pre is necessary.
One guy here uses a Benchmark preamp which is apparently a reference level solution at a ridiculously reasonable price. If you only have one source a $10k preamp might be overkill.
They don’t recommend passive attenuators for other products.
Vivaldi’s volume control works well down to around -40dB, while the other products start to lose detail with the volume below -26dB.
For other products, if you find you have to set the volume too low, we can only suggest that you resort to passive attenuators (not recommended) or a good preamplifier. Please consult your dealer for help.
So, other than Vivaldi products.
JA found that the Benchmark LA4 ($2499)/ HPA4 ($2999) had a more upfront presentation than the MBL N11 ($14,600) or Pass Labs XP-32 ($17,500), with less soundstage depth apparent on his own recordings.
While the LA4 is considerably less expensive than the Pass XP-32 and MBL N11, its measured performance is on par with that of those two technical high-fliers.
From:
https://www.stereophile.com/content/pass-laboratories-xp-32-line-preamplifier-page-2
Just a reminder thread in part from actual users here of the Allegri Reference :
Thanks Pete - I did read all those threads. And the conclusion seems to be (plus from what you said about balanced vs unbalanced o/p stages in the Rossini) that a Townsend Allegri Reference using XLR connectors from Rossini and to power amp is the way to go for optimal SQ if choosing a passive preamp. Obviously for active preamps there’s much more choice out there but many cost a lot more. Does that make sense?
Hello…as I am the original poster of the thread mentioned just a few entries above by PAR (Shortlist of Pre-amps etc), I came to the conclusion that…
I would be better off spending an additional £9k to £10k odd on trading-in and upgrading my Bartok to a new Rossini DAC rather than fussing over differing fairly similar performing preamps.
…so when funds allow I will do this, especially as the trade-in value of my low use Bartok (headphone model) seems strong.
My thinking is that I would rather have the benefit of superior source sound to play around with and pre-amp or not etc etc.
The fly in the ointment of all this is however, I do rather believe that DACS do seem to run best when running at full output which does rather need a pre-amp or ear defenders in my active setup…
Thanks Sean - I think I would like to go the preamp route with my Rossini but I’d prefer to go passive to keep things simple and the Townsend seems to have quite a few fans on here. However, it is not a fully balanced design so I expected to use RCA connectors. However, a number pf people have indicated that will not offer optimal SQ so best to use XLR connectors in “quasi balanced” mode. That is what I have understood anyhow. Would be helpful to hear from anyone who is already running Rossini with the Townsend what they are doing and how they have found the results compared with running direct into the power amp.
Just a data point…recently added the Constellation Preamp 1 (the partner to your Stereo 1) to a Bartok system. Had been running the Bartok directly to a Pass Lab and was not expecting much, if any, improvement but the preamp is extraordinary. System went to a new level.
Perhaps a passive preamp may be an improvement, but more a sideways step, and not the evolution expected.
Thanks for responding Warren - that is really helpful! I am going to borrow the Constellation preamp from my dealer next week so will report back.
@Ermos Wondering if you’re still happy with the benchmark preamp. Need to get a headphone amp. I can get a nimbus easily since it’s in stock. Did you ever demo it?
I am still very happy with my Benchmark HPA4, but will have to see how it holds up if I get a Abyss (currently a Focal Utopia).
I could not demo a Niimbus yet.
Remember to toggle the input (assuming XLR in….only way for Connies) to the one specifically for a Constellation preamp.
BTW: The Stereo 1 is my next upgrade……had one home for an A/B and our Pass Lab held its own in a head to head comparison but the Stereo 1 had a delicacy and level of detail that our (very hot Class A) amp couldn’t quite reproduce.
I use my Rossini with a passive preamp, perhaps the best on the market, a bespoke audio 
Here is what @PaleRider had to say on the subject:
I don’t use an active preamp, but my experience has been similar. My system sounds better with the Vivaldi DAC running at 6V with a Townshend Allegri Reference Pre attenuating the volume, than it did with the DAC at either 2V or 6V and controlling the volume with the Vivaldi.
I am a big fan of autoformer passive attenuators and Dave Slagle makes some of the best,
he can make a balanced unit