Tisbury Audio Mini Passive Pre-amp

[jandl100]

Yes, to all of the techie points above, as far as my meagre knowledge on such things goes! You do need careful system matching with a passive.

I have only moderate sensitivity speakers - in-room probably around 86dB/W - but I have not got close to max volume setting on the Tisbury pre, and I do play the system pretty loud at times! The Krell seems to have sufficient sensitivity / enough gain. According to the Stereophile review my CD player is standard 2v output.
But with previous passive pre-amps I have owned, with very different components to those I currently own, there have been times when I couldn't get enough volume out.

Yes, as mentioned previously, the bass can be weak and loose with passives if the system synergy is not right - but by golly, it sounds wonderful in my system!

The handy thing about the Tisbury is the 30 day refund deal - so it's easy enough to try it and see if it struts its very considerable stuff for you!
______________

Further listening yesterday (of course!) - and the dang thing seems to be "burning in". Without a doubt, to my mind, the sound is improving still further as the hours pass pleasurably by. The sound is becoming even more fluid and lucid, the imaging becoming more naturally rounded and 3D and walk-in-able, the dynamic speed becoming more explosive. It really seems to have opened up my system to the next level.
I also suspect that each step of the stepped attenuator has to be burned in separately. It only seems to take an hour or two for this to happen. Of course, it could improve further still with more play.

It's easy to become over-enthusiastic about a new component that 'hits the spot', but I have a sneaking suspicion that this is the best pre-amp I have ever had! Or, given the crucial role of system synergy with passive pre's, perhaps I should say that the Krell/Tisbury combo is the best amp I have ever used with the MBLs.

[apollo]

It very well can be.. when made right and matched right, passives can be incredible sounding and a tremendous bang for the buck.

[The Grand Wazoo]

Or, given the crucial role of system synergy with passive pre's, perhaps I should say that the Krell/Tisbury combo is the best amp I have ever used with the MBLs.

I'm glad you added that qualification Jerry because I think, that all too often, people attribute qualities to single components, when in fact, it's the collective qualities of the system that they are assessing. I think that's the sort of statement we need to see more of on AoS.

How often do you hear people saying "I heard product-X at a show/Mr Y's house and thought it was crap/great" (delete where applicable) In the context of a system in a new environment it's a meaningless statement.

[jandl100]

Yes - it's easy to get carried away with one's enthusiasms/hates and not see the situation in its broader context.

I mean, one day I might hear some Tannoys that I can live with.

btw, just noticed this, Chris .... "I'm OneOfTheSevenModsWhoToldMarcoNotToLiftHarrysBan."

[The Grand Wazoo]

btw, just noticed this, Chris .... "I'm OneOfTheSevenModsWhoToldMarcoNotToLiftHarrysBan."

Ha, yes it's been there a while now - I thought that this true and honest statement was appropriate in order to offer some balance to the allegations made against me by some fine and upstanding citizens including, it should be observed, notable members of the legal profession. For more information on this matter, please refer to my forum title.

[jandl100]

Aha - a useful 'tweak'.

The guys at Tisbury have seen this thread and I have just received this Top Tip from them ---
"A little note on something you said in the AoS thread… due to the serial construction of the attenuator, turning it all the way to max and leaving it playing (power amps off, obviously!) will 'burn' in all the resistors at once. Interestingly, we've had quite a few people reporting burn in, though it's a complete mystery as to how or why it happens!"

I'm still using and loving this passive pre.

[NRG]

Sounds like a series connected stepped attenuator. Most 'audiophile' ones are ladder types, pros and cons to both...

http://www.goldpt.com/attenuator_types.html

[jandl100]

Yes, I was interested to read that it uses a serial connected stepped attenuator.

I am still jaw-droppingly astonished by the transparency of this little pre - It just goes to show that the conventional 'audiophile wisdom' ain't all it's cracked up to be!

[Tarzan]

" Walk-in-able", erm l would patent that Jerry quick.

[jandl100]

Ah, that's proper reviewer-speak, that is!