RTally
Speaker addict
A passive device can't create gain, if "gain" means amplification of a signal.
Gain can be positive or negative. Even an active preamplifier, which has a powered amplifier, can output a signal having negative gain, that is, attenuate the input signal.
I would venture to say that every preamp uses negative gain. I know if I were to apply the input signal from some of my non-TT sources directly to my amp, I would blow my speakers.