solid state, unity gain preamp

lordearl · 29th May 2010, 05:38 AM

What is the best way to build one of these?

I've tried passive preamps (no gain is great, but life is sucked out of the music) and active preamps (sound is great, but they're far too loud) but would like to venture further and try a preamp which is essentially a buffer with a volume control.

People seem to be stuck in one camp (active) or the other (passive).

Any suggestions on a PCB or kit which might be a good starting point?

Cheers!

Calvin · 29th May 2010, 06:04 AM

Hi,

if done right a passive switched resistor network doesn´t suck life out of music, but can be the most neutral, dynamic and well sounding way to control volume.
A simple buffer should than only be needed with cable runs of more than 10m. I would opt for a simple JFET sourcefollower made up from two N-channel JFETs (see Erno Borbely´s Website about those). Besides beeing sonically a hell of a good thing, the building effort remains easy and small.

jauu
Calvin

alexcp · 29th May 2010, 06:26 AM

Another is Nelson Pass' B1 preamp - it was designed exactly as an answer to "passive preamps sucking life out of music". I built one using switched resistors volume control from DACT (DACT - Danish Audio ConnecT), and it sounds great. I believe you can order PCBs from Pass Laboratories or download Gerbers and make one yourself.

planet10 · 29th May 2010, 06:31 AM

At the moment diy versions of the FirstWatt B1 are the SS unity gain pre of choice.

dave

Gordy · 29th May 2010, 06:34 AM

Yes, the simplest implementation of a unity gain preamplifier is probably the Pass B1:

B1 Buffer Preamp

B1 builders thread

Building a symmetrical psu B1 buffer

lordearl · 29th May 2010, 07:10 AM

Well that was easy, will give it a go!

29th May 2010, 05:38 AM	#1
lordearl diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2007	solid state, unity gain preamp What is the best way to build one of these? I've tried passive preamps (no gain is great, but life is sucked out of the music) and active preamps (sound is great, but they're far too loud) but would like to venture further and try a preamp which is essentially a buffer with a volume control. People seem to be stuck in one camp (active) or the other (passive). Any suggestions on a PCB or kit which might be a good starting point? Cheers!

29th May 2010, 06:31 AM	#4
planet10 frugal-phile(tm) diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Victoria, BC, NA, Sol III Blog Entries: 4	At the moment diy versions of the FirstWatt B1 are the SS unity gain pre of choice. dave __________________ community sites t-linespeakers.org, frugal-horn.com ........ commercial site planet10-HiFi p10-hifi forum here at diyA

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29th May 2010, 06:04 AM	#2
Calvin diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: close to Basel	Hi, if done right a passive switched resistor network doesn´t suck life out of music, but can be the most neutral, dynamic and well sounding way to control volume. A simple buffer should than only be needed with cable runs of more than 10m. I would opt for a simple JFET sourcefollower made up from two N-channel JFETs (see Erno Borbely´s Website about those). Besides beeing sonically a hell of a good thing, the building effort remains easy and small. jauu Calvin

29th May 2010, 06:26 AM	#3
alexcp diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Florida Blog Entries: 28	Another is Nelson Pass' B1 preamp - it was designed exactly as an answer to "passive preamps sucking life out of music". I built one using switched resistors volume control from DACT (DACT - Danish Audio ConnecT), and it sounds great. I believe you can order PCBs from Pass Laboratories or download Gerbers and make one yourself.

29th May 2010, 06:34 AM	#5
Gordy diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2006	Yes, the simplest implementation of a unity gain preamplifier is probably the Pass B1: B1 Buffer Preamp B1 builders thread Building a symmetrical psu B1 buffer

29th May 2010, 07:10 AM	#6
lordearl diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2007	Well that was easy, will give it a go!

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