New Toy...

[jrhymeammo]

well, it's new to me anyways.

Sonic Euphoria PLC.

This passive preamp has tons and tons of wire. Cardas wire to be exact.
I'm not going to sit and count how many wires it has, but I think I've read it has some 280+ soldering points. It's an autoformer based preamp, and 2 autoformers are wound with Cardas wire as well. No resistors, caps, or other POTENTIALLY fidelity sucking components.
I said "potentially" so put your weapons away:biggrin5:

This unit was used as a show piece, so it has Plexiglass on the top and both sides.
It's absolutely stunning.

Will post some pics later,
JRA

JRA

[JohnMichael]

I have read good things about that passive preamp.

[jrhymeammo]

I think there was a review on 6moon that stated lack of dynamics.
I'm not using high impedance tube amps, but a pair of SS 10k ohm amps. It is a great match so far. Tons and Tons of dynamic, but I had to shorten the amps' XLR inputs to gain 6 additional dB.
My setup offers the best I've heard in years!!

[JohnMichael]

The preamp was either written about in Stereophile or Listener magazine. If I remember correctly they felt the transformers were a better choice than volume pots only.

http://stereophile.com/solidpreamps/106sonic/

[harley .guy07]

Cool, I would say this kind of setup would work fine if the company building it knows how to soldier like a champ. I have seen small towns in my area with less wire to power them than that preamp has but sometimes simplicity is the key to overall sound quality. And in preamps especially and that's why non audiophiles wonder why the higher end the preamp the less the features, No bass and treble controls,no balance, just purest form or line level control.

[Luvin Da Blues]

well, it's new to me anyways.

Sonic Euphoria PLC.......... It's an autoformer based preamp, and 2 autoformers are wound with Cardas wire as well.......JRA

Very interesting. I've been toying with the idea of a passive pre (if only my Marsh didn't sound great already) and this technology looks interesting. Gotta look pretty cool with the plexiglass covers. Enjoy

[jrhymeammo]

http://gallery.audioreview.com/data/audio//500/medium/Angle.JPG

http://gallery.audioreview.com/data/audio//500/medium/Angle_Back.JPG

http://gallery.audioreview.com/data/audio//500/medium/Top1.JPG

http://gallery.audioreview.com/data/audio//500/medium/Front_TOp.JPG

[atomicAdam]

I have to say with the plexiglas, it looks freaking awesome. I wish more equipment was built that way.

also, shorten the XLR to gain 6db? can you expand on this?

[jrhymeammo]

I have to say with the plexiglas, it looks freaking awesome. I wish more equipment was built that way.

also, shorten the XLR to gain 6db? can you expand on this?

Perhaps "Shorten" is a wrong word.
I hope someone will chime in on this, but the PASS Aleph 5 and Tim Rawson Aleph 5 come with shorting plug between pins 1 and 3 of the XLR inputs. This shorting plugs sets the gain of the amplifier to 26dB when I'm using the RCA input. So of course the removal of the pin will reduce the gain back to normal 20dB.

These amps are incredible and can be had for dirt cheap on Agon.
JRA