Tisbury Audio Mini Passive Pre-amp

[southall-1998]

Marco,

Is your Tisbury the ''Mini'' model?

S.

[User211]

From experience of using many different types of pots (although not those in question), I'd have to agree. No pot I've used is as accurate/uncoloured sounding as a high-quality stepped attenuator

Marco.

The problem is stepped attenuators are a bit shite in other ways. I was using a Kondo M77 with a duff stepped attenuator. The contacts wear out, and equal pressure without oxidisation needs to be attained for BOTH channels. This just doesn't happen with a lot of older units.

Therefore, I propose that they are in fact a bit shite if longevity is a concern..

A P&G plastic pot will last way longer, feel fantastic when you twist it - and sound superb. So will an Alps RK series but TBH I prefer the P&G sonically - just sounds a bit smoother and more natural. At least that's what I have convinced myself to be the case. YMMV.

[User211]

BTW despite using P&Gs and then an Alps RK for many years I now use an active valve preamp. Not because of a lack of dynamics. Very probably because of added distortion my ears appear to like with this particular unit. It just produces a very spacious soundstage. It has a pretty cheap Alps Blue Velvet in it but the circuit somehow makes amends I believe.

The "belief over reality" thang always worries me in this hobby. We convince ourselves of things that aren't really true quite a bit I reckon.

Plus, active gain is necessary for some recordings or use with some TV channels/Blu Ray disks etc in my system.

[Marco]

The problem is stepped attenuators are a bit shite in other ways. I was using a Kondo M77 with a duff stepped attenuator. The contacts wear out, and equal pressure without oxidisation needs to be attained for BOTH channels. This just doesn't happen with a lot of older units.

Therefore, I propose that they are in fact a bit shite if longevity is a concern..

A P&G plastic pot will last way longer, feel fantastic when you twist it - and sound superb. So will an Alps RK series but TBH I prefer the P&G sonically - just sounds a bit smoother and more natural. At least that's what I have convinced myself to be the case. YMMV.

Lol - well, that certainly isn't my experience! I've had a DACT stepped attenuator fitted to my Croft for about four years now. The amp is used for many hours every day, and I've had no problems whatsoever with contacts wearing out. It sounds stunningly good and significantly outperforms any pot I've used so far

Marco.

[Marco]

Marco,

Is your Tisbury the ''Mini'' model?

S.

Hi Shane,

Not sure if it's called a 'mini', but it's the older model with the plain wood fascia (no writing on it), point-to-point wiring (instead of PCBs), and no gain controls, etc, underneath. Nothing to interfere with the signal path. Just plain and simple!

Marco.

[southall-1998]

Hi Shane,

Not sure if it's called a 'mini', but it's the older model with the plain wood fascia (no writing on it), point-to-point wiring (instead of PCBs), and no gain controls, etc, underneath. Nothing to interfere with the signal path. Just plain and simple!

Marco.

Be nice if you post a pic of it with your system.

S.

[Marco]

Here's the original listing, showing the Tissy I've got (you can zoom in on the pics):

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tisbury-Au...vip=true&rt=nc



Marco.

[RichB]

Here's the original listing, showing the Tissy I've got (you can zoom in on the pics):

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tisbury-Au...vip=true&rt=nc



Marco.

I also enjoyed the change when I went passive too. You should fetch it along to the NEBO. Macca will have his NVA, I'll take my Icon Audio passive and if Nick comes again maybe we'll have a super dooper Music First too. MikRik usually brings his Prometheus TVC too. Now that would be interesting to see what differences there are between them all.

[Marco]

Hi Rich,

Yup, that sounds like a plan

Don't get me wrong here though, the Tissy is NOT replacing the Croft. It was bought for a bit of fun, a) because I'd never heard a passive in my current system, and b) to reduce the 'heat count' in the system during the hot summer months.

I'm happy to report that in that respect it's been a great success, and also sounds superb (much better than I thought it would - offering amazing value for money), but I'm not going to be abandoning the Croft anytime soon!

Marco.

[Ali Tait]

I also enjoyed the change when I went passive too. You should fetch it along to the NEBO. Macca will have his NVA, I'll take my Icon Audio passive and if Nick comes again maybe we'll have a super dooper Music First too. MikRik usually brings his Prometheus TVC too. Now that would be interesting to see what differences there are between them all.

I have one with a DACT Stepper I can bring too.