dac - passive output ?

[2cc]

I'm still in the first chapter of Electronics for Dimwits, so please keep it simple if possible.

I've seen that some dacs and dac mods claim to have passive output. I take it that this means that opamps are out and some sort of capacitor is in instead. So, like, what's the point?

Does a passive out usually mean lower line voltage? Is it most effective with an active preamp? My output stage leads directly to a pot in my amp so I'm inclined to think that opamps in the output stage are a good thing - at least for me. I can see how a passive output stage would make sense if you are using a preamp, but otherwise I'm not so sure.

Thanks.

 

[David Davenport]

Here is one example of a passive output.

http://www.raleighaudio.com/passive_output.htm