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ML1401 (A) - Paeonia Passive Pre-Amplifier (Revision 2)
By admin | August 16, 2008
Passive pre-amplifiers do not amplify the musical signal. Their purpose is to allow selection and attenuation of two or more inputs without - crucially - leaving any imprint whatsoever on the musical signal.At Musical Laboratory* we have been able to approach this ideal through the clever application of a classic, ultra minimalist circuit whereby the direct signal passes through just one resistor from the input to the output. We created a passive preamplifier based on the following design goals:
- should continue the tradition of our mono-block amplifiers and be aesthetically pleasing
- using as short as possible signal path through the device.
We achieved both these goals using some lateral - out-of-the-box - thinking, by placing the control knobs and switches inside the box.Other design goals were:
- Should allow attenuation of the input - rather than output - signals to allow SPL (volume) matching of sources, which is a necessary condition for performing A-B comparisons.
- ultra minimalist shunt design where the signal only passes through 1 next generation audio resistor from the input to the output (2)
- use of highest quality attenuation devices and connectors
- hand silk-wrapped vanishingly thin pure silver wire over the entire signal path in the device, maintaining primarily an air dielectric
The minimalist circuitry is housed inside a lacquered box decorated with an iridescent Abalone mother of pearl design of Paeonia (1). The lid can be lifted allowing access to the preamplifier switches and volume controls. The combination of high quality components, the short signal path, limiting the metal-metal boundaries to just silver, and use of a complete air-dielectric in the signal path allowed us to create a device which allows switching and volume control over 2 inputs while leaving the least possible imprint on the musical signal.
Features include :
- Input 1/ Mute / Input 2 toggle switch control
- Audio Note chrome-plated brass volume controls
- Vishay Sfernice P11s used in shunt - fake law configuration
- 2 x solid silver RCA input connections
- 1 x solid silver RCA output connections
- Ultra-thin silk-insulated silver wiring throughout the device
| ML1401 | Preamplifier | 1895 EUR |
- Paeonia or peony is the only genus in the flowering plant family Paeoniaceae found in Asia and Japan - often referenced in the works of Masaoka Shiki (see Links)
- Note that negative sounding potentiometers are not in the direct signal path.
- ML1401A is now available which contains 2 inputs and 2 outputs. The Auxiliary 2nd. output can be used to drive sub-woofers or a second listening zone. (Priced at 1995 EUR)
Topics: 6.Pre-Amplification |
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