Tisbury Audio Mini Passive Pre-amp

[jandl100]

Oooo - I've come across a rather special product - I feel a mini-review coming on!

My luvverly Restek Consens pre has been, just occasionally, playing up a bit ... so I thought I'd get in a backup device just in case it has to be sent off for some TLC.

I'd heard 'word on the streets' that the Tisbury passive pre was interesting, so I have duly invested in one to have a go.

Unbelievably cute, and very well made and finished indeed, this wee beastie measures a mere 11x4.7cm at it's faceplate.




Pretty much any combo of inputs and outputs can be had, as long as there are 4 of them!

Lifting some of the blurb from the eBay ad .....
"A passive preamp with a precision SMD stepped attenuator, silver plated OFC wire with PTFE sleeve, silver plated selector switch, and exceptional quality CMC gold connectors. The enclosure is anodised aluminium with a solid wooden front made from american black walnut. .... The volume control is a precise, audiophile grade 21 step attenuator with an array of laser trimmed SMD resistors, giving a tolerance of +/- 0.25dB .... These are available in 10Kohm (standard) or 50Kohm which can be used with tube based sources.
We also Alps Blue Velvet potentiometers which can be used instead of the stepped attenuator"

I have the stepped attenuator version. The steps in volume are about right with my speakers (mid 80dB/W sensitivity); not too large a jump per step.

The sonics are a bit surprising. Very clear and lucid, the transparency on offer is way beyond the normal run of low price passives, and leaves some high priced ones in its wake as well! It may not have quite the rez in the mids of my very high rez active Restek, but it's still to a very high standard and can make for a more cumfy listen than the 'warts & all' Restek, which can be a little forthright in the upper registers. Another comparison is with the TVC passive pre-amps - it's less cosy and warm than they generally are, ime, and has higher rez across the freq band. I've had several TVC pre-amps and enjoyed them, but imo the Tisbury is better; more accurate and revealing.

Unlike many non-TVC passives, dynamics are not noticeably diminished - TVCs are good at this, as well, ime.
Bass is more than a little astonishing in its clarity, control and power. Really special.
Treble is very extended and open, detailed, focussed and pure.
Imaging is ... well, it's beautiful, both laterally and in-depth. Nicely focussed and very believable.

A great, genuine high end product at a very low price for the sq it delivers, imho. My Restek pre is on gardening leave at the moment.