Without a test printout of frequency response, signal-to-noise ratio, THD+N and one channel un-driven crosstalk measurements, it would be difficult to gauge the price to performance value. You have to know what your competitors are capable of at any price point.
An analogue preamp designer question
Hi everyone,
I'm working on a design of analog preamplifier with a fully mechanical controls. It has decent tactile experience, and very nice to play with. At the same it it has precise controls calibration and parametric EQ instead of generic tone control. The front panel is aluminium milled. The brand is entirely new, it is going to be our first device. The retail price could be something like $2500.
Functional:
- 6 line inputs,
- integrated phono preamp with discreet MC stage, op-amp based MM with a 3-rd order subsonic filter,
- integrated headphone amplifier,
- tape replay support,
- good electronics, should measure really well.
- Dimensions: 435 x 241 x 42 mm (17.1 x 9.5 x 1.6 inches)
Problems found so far:
- absence of remote control,
- slightly industrial look: industrial aluminium profiles on the sides, iron painted top cover,
- headphone controls are unusable when the jack is inserted, too little space.
Please help me find out which direction I should be moving this product for a better market fit, and a successful sales.
Possible options are:
- Go down with the price, instead of $2500 it could be say $900. Of course there will be no aluminium knobs, and front panel, the whole enclosure will be made from iron sheet, possibly knobs will be made of plastic
- Make it less PRO: remove controls calibration, simplify tone control
- Add digital inputs: S/PDIF, Bluetooth, etc
- Change the dimensions, so it is easier to put a turntable on it, or find a furniture
- your option
Thank you for all the thoughts!
Pictures:
See more pictures in the following GDrive folder https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/16WM_ciXyQmUlHIxwDMZ85MbP_raGGvtW?usp=sharing
11 responses Add your response
For me, it had better have remote control. I'm not interested digital inputs. Take a look at a McIntosh C15 preamp to see how they managed to do all you are looking for in a nice clean looking unit. You wouldn't need to do lighting. I have one of their units and it is a darn nice layout as far as I'm concerned. Your price point seems ok as a goal. |
I like parametric EQ because now i use headphone... And being to drive amplifier/ speakers is good but high end headphone amplification will be a winner... Most high quality amp drive only speakers and headphone amplification is specialized now... Why not a very good pre-amp for all use ?
By the way for me your design is stunningly good... Congratulations! |
I believe these days there is almost no connection between performance and price, unless the price is really low, say below $500. For example see, https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/measurements-of-gustard-p26-preamplifier.10492/ and products of Schiit. For those who have mentioned remote control @raysmtb1 @sid42, you either get good mechanical controls, or remote control. It is very expensive to implement a mechanical switch which is working in interaction with remote control for channel switching. Motorised potentiometer is also making tactile experience from using volume knob worse. For C15 McIntosh went a classic way of using microcontroller-driven electromechanical switching, with a simple tactile switches on front panel. The downside is basic tactile experience: there is little fun touching such buttons, but pros are integration with anything which can be controlled through microcontroller: RS232, remote control, mobile app, etc. BTW in the device above, the buttons are having orange, yellow and blue shutters inside, so when you press it, it mechanically becomes colored from inside. My question is do people in hi-end/hi-fi really care of tactile experience? |
A remote control is very practical... But because of what you described it is not priority... I listen to audiophile sound not to convenient tool for anything but music... It is me for sure... I would also like a remote control... But i dont need it for audio sound experience which is my priority...Anyway i am in headphone listenin and i seat beside the headphone amp... I am not a representative customers for your pre-amp... Nowadays people use headphone as often if not much often than dedicated speakers system...Especially the young... Then why not introducing them to good sound with a pre-amp made for speakers system ? You kill two birds with one stone... And yes the volume pot tactile experience or any control count to... Quality of design is the promise for a quality of sound.. i like your description about "colors inside"..
By the way i dont like push-buttonon/off ... i prefer turning button...But this is my taste...
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I’d like a remote with volume and on/off if the helps. Over the years I’ve kind of gravities to pres about a 1/2 in taller not sure why. Today the be tactile feel I’ve have found is the Bricasti volume control on their DACs. Try an M3 if possible it is the first piece of equipment I’ve owned in 49 years where tactile feel was something that I felt “wow”. Most are either non issue or I hate this it ferls cheap! My two cents. Probably worth that as well. Pics look great good luck! |
Thank you for all your feedback everyone! Implementing remote control only for volume, muting, power/stand by was exactly our idea for the second version. Detailed renders of a second version can be seen here https://www.facebook.com/ZlatoustAudio/posts/pfbid0ZDCv7s5mQQfTcFhyEyB5zduqwhHbkGUM9bTFTYCTGS3tNtw6WwqJZnALwZR2DSg9l Appreciate your feedback! |
@yogiboy That's an option, but pretty rare request. What scenario do you have in mind? |
