Lightspeed Attenuator - Best Preamp Ever?

Publus57, the active vs. passive debate is indeed an interesting (and old) one. Many of the guys making active pre-amps today have toyed with passive designs in the past.

My crude understanding of the Lightspeed and devices like it is that its a variable resistor triggered by light. This idea is not new. Georgelofi, what is proprietary or unique about your particular design?

For end users, I wonder if the sonic signature of the Lightspeed (an oxymoron) is easily distinguishable from other passives? If you were to undergo actual blinded listening sessions, could you even pick it out in a lineup? That is a question I ask myself about my own equipment.

A friend of mine (who owns a big name active) demoed the Lightspeed and said it did a lot of things well, but it did not displace his active pre-amp. He did have some long ICs which may have sullied the demo in his mind.

For the sake of clarity and unbiased reporting, I would be more than willing to do some blinded listening sessions of active vs. passive pre-amps (in the Charlotte NC area). I will make sure to involve more people than simply devotees of the individual devices involved.

I like the idea of blind listening sessions, why are so many audiophiles and reviewers agaisnt it, or at least to believe in it as a effective method for assessment? That always seemed odd to me. Yes, it would be a good idea to do such a test absent the knowledge of when one is listening to a particular piece, epsecially when they have invested themselves in a piece financially and/or emotionally. I don't know if the LSA is the best preamp, which doesn't exist, but I pretty happy knowing that for $450 I was able to sell my active preamp that was $7,000 more without any obvious sense that is not as good (enjoyable). That can make anyone a devotee on the basis of value alone.

One thing that would be nice in the LSA, and most modern preamps, though it might "ruinous" or a least "deleterious", is a scheme for balance control to account for recodring mixes, room geometry, and human frailty as we age - not sure how many ears are balanced L/R- perhaps than we would like. I think HP once said not having a balance control was a fatal design flaw - yet one that is very, very common in purist designs.

Agear hi your questions to me are answered here it's a big read, I started doing these some 30 years ago it was new then, I should have patent it, it is refined sonically to the max today, without being overly complex, and pricing kept low as possible.

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/analog-line-level/80194-lightspeed-attenuator-new-passive-preamp.html

www.lightspeedattenuator.com

Cheers George

Pubul57, I like the concept of blinded sessions to remove bias. It is quasi-scientific. I think a lot of manufacturers are sensitive to the whole shootout model (blinded or not) since a poorly executed setup can talk the results and hurt their business. I am aware that most hi end audio companies in the US are mom & pop outfits, and the last thing I want to do is damage their livelihood. That being said, my pre-amp maker (TRL Dude) was stoked about the idea.

I think a second issue is pride. A lot of philes are wedded to their gear and get tribal on you fast (myself included) when challenged. At this point, I don't care about looking like a rube. If something is better, its better. The truth sets you free at the end of the day.

Prior to owning a Dude, I experimented at the level of the pre-amp quite a bit. My Wifi front end has enough juice to easily drive amps directly. I liked the sense of clarity, but the soundstage was always too flat for me. It did not sound right. In my previous rig, I used a Granite Audio 657 tubed CDP without a pre-amp. It had an enormous amount of gain in the output stage, and my system always sounded more dynamic and alive without a pre-amp. This was an experience shared by a majority of 657 owners. Conceptually, it harkened back to the 80s/90s when a straight wire with gain was thought to be optimal (by some).

Bringing things into the present tense, I discovered the TRL Dude (thanks Bill/Grannyring). It had the dynamics and sense of control of the 657 with with so much more. That being said, I am always open to hearing "more." TVAD mentioned his new VRE-1 as being a passive "with balls" and how much he is in love with that device. I did not realize that the Concert Fidelity pre was a "passive with balls" also. Dale Pitcher from Intuitive Design is using that pre at RMAF this year. I own some of his equipment and respect his ears. That being said, a buddy of mine who owns a highly modded but vintage TRL GT3 pre-amp (15 years + I believe) recently demoed both the Concert Fidelity and Lightspeed and still preferred the TRL pre. In particular, he said the LS lacked "dynamics and control."

Pubul57, out of curiosity, what pre-amps have you compared this device to? Atma-sphere per chance? Have you ever hear it with solid state amps? What is your source? It does seem as if you need fairly specific conditions for the LS to thrive.

As an FYI, I used to be a Merlin owner. Loved those speakers. Was about to purchase the ARS Filharmonia and got sucked down another rabbit hole audiophile style....