Tisbury Audio Mini Passive Pre-amp

[jandl100]

There's a new version of the Tisbury passive pre out.
Knowing me to be a fan of the original, Wes at Tisbury sent me one to try out, I only sent it back to him today.

According to Wes ... "the new model is circuit board based rather than wired point to point, which does allow better control of signal paths and returns. That certainly won’t hurt the sound quality. Apart from that it’s mostly the same components."

I didn't have the original passive to hand, but based on audio memory the new one is a bit more transparent.

I disagree with Dave DSJR (a not unusual occurrence ), I find passive preamps sound different from each other.

I owned both the original Tissie and a Glasshouse Number 1 passive pre at the same time, the Glasshouse having a full-on stepped attenuator unlike the Tis which has a SMD stepped attenuator where consecutive resistors are summed, I think . I preferred the Tis and sold the Glasshouse - the Glassy one was a bit stark and unforgiving even for my preferences which tend to the forward / lively side.
The old Tis had just a touch of Golden Glow about it that made it a quite distinctive sound that I enjoyed a lot.
The new version has a touch more clarity and not as much of a Golden Glow, but it still has that characteristic to an extent.

Check out the Tisbury website -- http://www.tisburyaudio.co.uk/mini-passive-preamplifier

Copy and pasted from the site, the changes in the new version are ...

New Look, More Inputs and Outputs
Our second generation preamp now has 3 inputs, 2 configurable outputs and a laser engraved walnut + aluminium enclosure. The chassis is longer, more substantial and remains stable with heavy cables.

Selectable Fixed Attenuation
A new feature is the selectable attenuation, which allows you to reduce the signal by a fixed -10 dB or -20 dB. If your system has too much gain and you can't turn the volume dial past 12 o'clock without hearing damage, this setting will help.

Configurable Outputs
Output 1 is the primary output and its level is set by the volume control. Output 2 can be configured (by switches on the base) as either an additional primary output, or as a 'loop' out, to bypass the volume control and (you guessed it) loop out to another device.
____

Turn the wee beastie upsidedown and this surprising sight confronts you ....



Dip switches to adjust the gain and configure the 2nd output socket pair. Cool - reminds me of the Trichord Dino phonostage which uses the same type of idea.

The front fascia looks neater too ...



And to complete the 3D survey, here's the rear ...



Price is still nicely low - at £129 you can't really argue, I don't think.

An excellent passive pre, imho.

[Marco]

Hi Jerry,

Excellent pics and info mate - thanks for sharing

Just to pick up on this:

According to Wes ... "the new model is circuit board based rather than wired point to point, which does allow better control of signal paths and returns. That certainly won’t hurt the sound quality. Apart from that it’s mostly the same components."

I didn't have the original passive to hand, but based on audio memory the new one is a bit more transparent.

I can't dispute the fact that you found it more transparent, or that Wes considers the introduction of a PCB an improvement, but it's contrary to my own experience (with valve amps), where hard-wired, point to point, is best.

Indeed that (along with the stepped attenuator) is what sold me the idea of obtaining a Tissy! It should be here tomorrow, so will report my findings accordingly

Marco.

[Andrei]

It's the first thing to try. I use this: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Switch-Cle...item4198c40da4

Their site says: "We must be notified of any fault within 7 days of receipt of the goods. If the customer rejects the faulty goods within 7 days then a full refund will be given, providing the goods are returned complete, in all original packaging and in a re-sellable condition. "

So the faulty good must be in a re-sellable condition!

[jandl100]

I can't dispute the fact that you found it more transparent, or that Wes considers the introduction of a PCB an improvement, but it's contrary to my own experience (with valve amps), where hard-wired, point to point, is best.

Yep, I hear what you say, Marco! - I was a bit surprised myself.

But I have to confess that since learning that probably my favourite "cone & dome in a box" loudspeaker, Leema Xaviers, have PCB based crossovers I've come to the conclusion that there are far more important aspects in a design!

[User211]

Re-sellable "faultyness"? LOL.

I'm with Marco I like hardwired stuff. Whether it really is logical is another question. It may well be that I like the thought of something being handmade rather than stamped out, but my power amps, speaker crossovers and quite a bit of my DAC are done this way, and they all sound excellent to me.

Crosstalk between wires can and does happen though. Decent PCB layouts do prevent it.

[Marco]

Yep, I hear what you say, Marco! - I was a bit surprised myself.

But I have to confess that since learning that probably my favourite "cone & dome in a box" loudspeaker, Leema Xaviers, have PCB based crossovers I've come to the conclusion that there are far more important aspects in a design!

Sure, in terms of the last bit, I'd agree. With something such as loudspeakers, you're listening to the cumulative effect of the SUM of the many parts used, and not to that of any individual parts (such as PCBs in crossovers). However, in something as basic and minimal as a passive preamp, the inclusion or lack thereof of a PCB, is liable to be more sonically significant.

Up until now, to my ears, PCBs, used in amps, have imposed a 'sonic signature' that I would consider as detrimental, compared with point-to-point wiring done well, which of course sometimes it isn't - and of course there are PCBs and PCBs. However, there's a valid reason why, for example, Glenn Croft won't entertain building his valve preamps any way other than hard-wired, and I feel that is also relevant in the case of the Tissy.

Anyway, that aside, I'm sure that both the old and new versions of the latter are excellent and offer superb SPPV, and so I'm very much looking forward to receiving mine and putting it through its paces!

Marco.

[mikmas]

I like the idea of the attenuators having had to resort to something similar when using my DIY passive. Can also understand that adding this feature kind of necessitates using a PCB (no fun hardwiring DIP switches...)

Was very tempted by their previous incarnation but this is calling to me like a siren onto the rocks ... at that price it's irresistible

[jandl100]

Many situations where gain is a problem with a passive, as Justin says, are going to be the other way around with too little overall system gain to reach desired sound levels. But with the plethora of horn speakers, for example, at 100dB/W+ sensitivity there could well be too much gain.
Also power amps with high input sensitivity - the excellent Leak Stereo 20 comes to mind, as well as other vintage amps -- when I had a Stereo 20 I always had to use those "attenuator in an RCA plug" doodads to keep the volume control setting sensible - the new Tisbury's -10dB or -20dB setting would sort that issue nicely.

[jandl100]

Price is still nicely low - at £115 you can't really argue, I don't think.

An excellent passive pre, imho.

Oops, I got the price wrong.

Wes has just emailed me saying that it's £129.

I've corrected the original post.

Still cracking value, though.

[User211]

I'm waiting for a Penny & Giles plastic pot version. I'd buy it at quite a big premium, because I have it in my head they sound fab having had a passive containing them in the past.

I suspect an indefinite wait