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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
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 

I don't know, but if you look at the thread I posted at diyAudio forums on how to make a Lightspeed yourself if you electronically minded.

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

It's ratio is at 1 million hits for 5,000 posts

Cheers George
audiolabyrinth's avatar
audiolabyrinth
4,555 posts
 
thankyou
soundguy3
3 posts
 
Had the Lightspeed now for about 4 weeks... I opted for the separate volume control for each channel so I could have more control over the balance.

Wow, is the superlative that comes to mind. Having the LSA in the mix is so revealing, it's like removing a layer of film on a window of sound. I have been around live classical music all my life, (pro classical musician). It is amazing how the LSA is allowing clean, clear, full and natural sounds from my system...and this is with some of the equipment that is not new!

Sony XA7ES CD Player

Aragon D2A DAC (prototype)

LSA w/Teralink X2 Upgraded Linear Power Supply DC 8.5V 1A, USB 5V 1A

Newly Rebuilt Pass/Threshold S200 Amp www.vintageamprepair.com (Great sounding SS amp)

Anticable speaker wire (Level 3) www.anticables.com

Ic's are Jena Labs Digital Symphony from the Sony Xa7es digital out to the D2A, and Jena Labs 2 strand ic from the XA7es to the iput of the LSA. LSA to the S200 is a generic ic.

And the speakers...another "WOW"....brand new for me...
Grand Teton SE's. www.wavetouchaudio.com If anyone is looking for the most incredibly revealing, natural, non-fatiguing, beautiful sounding 2 way speakers that are worth far more than their cost, these are it. They really should cost a heck of a lot more than they do! Voices, instruments, floating in space, pinpoint accuracy, holographic, 3D depth and width of the soundstage, even behind me, depending on the venue/recording. I listen to Jazz, classical ensembles, orchestra, Vocals such as Eva Cassidy etc. Pretty much all kinds of music except hard rock. Drums...amazing realistic impact, cymbals etc, all right there... all of these attributes are more clearly defined with the LSA!

The S200 is one great sounding amp in ALL areas. I had it rebuilt/upgraded. I tried several pre-amps, an Acurus L11 and an Aragon 24k, which are both older pre's and not the best...there was no contest..the LSA was clearly superior. In reading about the pre's and LSA, even pre's that cost a lot more, do not beat the LSA.

These speakers are so good, also very sensitive and revealing of ANY change upstream. For example..changing the powercord for the TeraDak power supply to the LSA, you could hear the difference through these speakers. I tried several, one had better depth, but not as clear, another was more upfront, instruments, voices were clearer, but the soundstage was not as deep. Interesting, the best balance is the powercord that came with the TeraDak, and best sounding so far.

In all the years I have had stereo, have never heard this kind of realism and quality of sound coming from my system. The speakers are amazing, allowing one to hear very clearly, how incredible the LSA is.

The 2 volume control is a bit tricky to get just right. At this point, after listening very carefully, just visually getting them in the exact spot, I'm getting good balance.

I leave the LSA on 24/7 as George suggested it will last 50 years instead of 25. :)

What a sound people...this is def a big step towards having live sound in your living room! Great job George...thank you!!
milpai's avatar
milpai
2,420 posts
 
George,
Try as I might, but I could not find any ringing in my TVC, for the past so many days.
One thing I really hoped that Nicholas Chua did better - customer service and response. His TVCs (at least the dual box) are pretty awesome. But I hesitate recommending them to others because of the wait times and unresponsive customer service.
b_limo's avatar
b_limo
2,288 posts
 
Milpai, I was wondering if you were going to be able to pick up on the ringing that George was talking about. Guess its a good thing that you can't!

Soundgyy, good to see another happy Lightspeed owner. I had to sell mine but will have to buy another one when I have the funds available. It's the only pre amp I've had in my system that removes ALL of that slight haze or fog that is present with any other preamp I've tried. Another thanks for your thoughts on the wavetouch speakers; if they didn't look like pinocchio I'd consider them, but I can't get past that "happyto see me" look.

Milpai, I'd be interested in you comparing a Lightspeed to your tvc...
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