I have this on the bench. I picked this half built Aikido pre amp with headphone out. Everything is included to complete the build except for a chassis. I bought all the parts for a 3 tier chassis. Power supply on the first tier the left and right channels on the second and third tier.
Just set up the Noir in my loudspeaker system tonight after confirming I actually did everything correct in the build. The initial problems I had were entirely not a fault of the Noir circuit, details in the headphone sub/Noir thread.
Anyway, after confirming the amp was stable and functioning properly and wasn't going to damage anything I packed it up and moved it upstairs. My end goal was originally a lower cost, decent sound preamp to take temporary place of my 1968 Pioneer SX1500TD while I overhaul it. Not wanting to spend $$$$ I thought the noir would fit and sound at least acceptable while the receiver is down.
After initial listening with my IEM and streaming source direct from my phone I was absolutely blown away! First impression, it's beyond quiet. Like dead silent. During testing I even switched it on and off a few times to try and figure out if it was on as I mounted the switch upside down and couldn't tell with the volume down!
Hooked up my TT, nothing super nice but a good sounding source, Monolith with an AT100 cart fitted with an AT120eb stylus and on board phono stage (switchable and not used with Pioneer receiver, Pearl 3 on deck for next build). Amplification is a Pass Aleph 30 (commercial unit, not diy) and output into EPI M100 speakers. The speakers aren't terribly efficient around ~86db/1m and 8ohm.
Before building this thing I was seriously thinking of upping the gain because my other head amps with 6db gain sounded lack luster in my loudspeaker system but once hooked up the Noir I realized it wasn't necessary! Loud enough to raise your voice to talk in the same room was only just past 50% on the volume! Did I mention quiet? Highly detailed, didn't realize how congested sounding my Pioneer had become over the past few decades. Bass is clear, just pure sound reproduction. Exactly as reproduced on whichever medium you choose.
Suffice it to say, Noir doing duty as a preamp is just as good as a head amp. Only reason I would up the gain would be if I had a large listening room. I did use the 10k Alps blue velvet pot for volume, so keeping normal listening level between 50%-75% seems to be best and my system i sit about 2.5 meters from the speakers, volume about 60% is loud enough to sound good without bothering anyone on either floor above or below in my house.
TL/DR, very quiet, excellent sound, enough gain for lower wattage systems, detailed, with excellent clarity.
Pic is temporary location.
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Impressive craftsmanship 6L6! Thank you for inspiring the rest of us. Q: What is the make, model and source of the chassis you are using? I'm thinking of adding the power filter as suggested so will need to retrofit into a new chassis....really like the way you did yours! Thank you in advance!
Thanks for the kind words!
Yes, the chassis is a 330x230mm 1U Galaxy from Modushop - https://modushop.biz/site/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=245
@Gianluca makes a great chassis, I wholeheartedly recommend them.
Yes, the chassis is a 330x230mm 1U Galaxy from Modushop - https://modushop.biz/site/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=245
@Gianluca makes a great chassis, I wholeheartedly recommend them.
The key though to make this a success beyond success is availing any design with knowledge about consumer line level. All you need do is match power amp sensitivity to consumer line level, then use the most linear method of attenuation. Heads up, is the media you play contains the level, not the hardware you play it with.