Toft LBPA-5 pre-amp !

[nat8808]

Didn't know whether to put this here or in the classic area as Toft stuff isn't classic and isn't well known.. I'll put it in the general discussion forum though for now so that it is visible.


I know there are at least two people on here who use or have used a Toft pre-amp so I wanted to see what info people had on these and what they've compared it to.

I have one... bought a while ago. I'm planning on testing it out soon, to go head to head with a Concordant valve pre, an Emmlabs Switchman Mk1 and XTC Pre 2 (and my tatty Primare 928 if I can fix it soon). Into some Nestorovic valve monos which are supposedly best balanced.

What are people's opinions of the Toft LBPA-5, which other pre-amps have they compared it to and what amps have they driven with it?

And what info or documentation do people have on it? I've downloaded an advert that was posted on this forum a while ago, but that's the only info I have. I emailed Toft last month but heard nothing back.

Mine has a sticker saying 'Limited Edition' on the front. Does that mean anything seeing as they were all limited in production anyway?

Has anyone op-amp rolled?

[Mr.Ian]

I know this is an old thread, but my LBPA-5 has just been given the kiss of life by Alan (Firebottle) - I plugged it in last night and gave it a listen.

Compared to my John Wood Audio (JAW) pre amp the bass sounded beefier and the vocals recessed but the imaging was improved - albeit slightly to one side so I pressed the DIM button, which gives a 20db cut and turned the volume up to compensate. (the Pot is very linear above about 10 o'clock)

The sound was transformed - the difference was so great I had to treble check. The increased bass, which had to my ears been too intrusive, was cut and the vocals were back to what I expected. The imaging was spot on centre but compared to the JWA, its self no slouch, the clarity ! It was like a veil had been lifted. The basic sound was the same but was if a layer of very low level back ground grunge had been removed.

Quite why the amp should sound so different with the DIM switch in is totally beyond me but I would be interested to know if any one else can replicate this.

As for op amp rolling I too looked into this many years ago but didn't make much progress, I tried some TL272 which is the more modern version of the TL072 that are fitted but didn't notice any difference so went back to the originals

[pgarrish]

perhaps your input signal is too 'hot' for the pre - the DIM button might reduce it without the bounds of the amp, it may have been overloading before? Or maybe it helps impedance match with your source/power amp?

[Mr.Ian]

That's an interest thought, thank you - testing was done with a Young Dac, I will try the phono stage later

[Mr.Ian]

Spent the last hour listening to cd and phono, with and without Rothwell's in series.

The differences don't appear as marked this afternoon - probably more to do with me not getting the volume the same when I switch the Dim circuit in than anything else.