2. amps-preamps
  3. 1276356977

Lightspeed Attenuator - Best Preamp Ever?

The question is a bit rhetorical. No preamp is the best ever, and much depends on system context. I am starting this thread beacuase there is a lot of info on this preamp in a Music First Audio Passive...thread, an Slagle AVC Modules...thread and wanted to be sure that information on this amazing product did not get lost in those threads.

I suspect that many folks may give this preamp a try at $450, direct from Australia, so I thought it would be good for current owners and future owners to have a place to describe their experience with this preamp.

It is a passive preamp that uses light LEDs, rather than mechanical contacts, to alter resistance and thereby attenuation of the source signal. It has been extremely hot in the DIY community, since the maker of this preamp provided gernerously provided information on how to make one. The trick is that while there are few parts, getting it done right, the matching of the parts is time consuming and tricky, and to boot, most of use would solder our fingers together if we tried. At $450, don't bother. It is cased in a small chassis that is fully shielded alloy, it gets it's RF sink earth via the interconnects. Vibration doesn't come into it as there is nothing to get vibrated as it's passive, even the active led's are immune as they are gas element, no filaments. The feet I attach are soft silicon/sorbethane compound anyway just in case.

This is not audio jewelry with bling, but solidly made and there is little room (if any) for audionervosa or tweaking.

So is this the best preamp ever? It might be if you have a single source (though you could use a switch box), your source is 2v or higher, your IC from pre-amp to amp is less than 2m to keep capaitance low, your amp is 5kohm input or higher (most any tube amp), and your amp is relatively sensitive (1v input sensitivity or lower v would be just right). In other words, within a passive friendly system (you do have to give this some thought), this is the finest passive preamp I have ever heard, and I have has many ranging form resistor-based to TVCs and AVCs.

In my system, with my equipment, I think it is the best I have heard passive or active, but I lean towards prefering preamp neutrality and transparency, without loosing musicality, dynamics, or the handling of low bass and highs.

If you own one, what are your impressions versus anything you have heard?

Is it the best ever? I suspect for some it may be, and to say that for a $450 product makes it stupidgood.
pubul57
brownemi
1 posts
 
I have had my LS now for over 2 years and can thoroughly recommend it for its clear, transparent sound. I use both integrates and pre- amps and since buying the LS, my favourite pre being the Melody 1688 has sat in its box due to non use. I sometimes tend to have short listening sessions and warming up a tube pre is inconvenient.

The LS having only one set of inputs hasnt been a hassle as I use a multiple input phono stage but when I do need to change source say to CD its a little hassle unpluging and repluging new interconnects. For the price differential compared to a full blown multi source pre that sounds as good, its not a hassle at all.

George, if you made a dual/multi source LS then the world would be your oyster! cheers Michael
batalok
31 posts
 
I've been using my lsa with ss monoblocks. In the beginning the lsa was polite, missing some dynamics. But I have changed the whole thing, other cables (shorter and different brand), I have modified a bit the poweramps (by somebody, a wizard). The lsa "sounds" terrific now! Dynamics? Yes! Polite? No way. All in all te lsa "sounds" as it should be, no other (?) preamp in the 15k pricerange (and maybe above) comes in the neighbourhood imho. But George could you make a remote control.....?
batalok.
acuscott
2 posts
 
I've owned one for years since i first saw it reviewed in 'audiophile'. It performs flawlessly and i would suggest less is more in these preamp circumstances. I have also owned the 'promethius' pre-amp and found that volume attenuators do a great job. If you must have an expensive pre-amp because you trust your wallet more than your ears then so be it. But if you can afford a very epxensive pre-amp, then trying out this little $470 number as an experiment won't hurt the purse strings.
devilboy
1,176 posts
 
This preamp simply, "isn't there". I just shake me head at all of the ridiculously overpriced preamps out there after hearing this thing.
auntjenof2
42 posts
 
I have been using the LSA for a few months now with Coincident Frankensteins.
It replaced the Coincident Statement linestage which I really loved. I was lucky to reach out to Tony (clio09) when I saw he lived in the same town. I heard it in his system and for $470.00 decided to give it a try. As others have said it is flawless and is like having a direct connection from source to amps. I do have a system that meets the requirements- short interconnects etc. I have no problem with those that love active preamps, but for this price I think everyone should try the LSA. Thanks Tony!
George
More to discover