The PRE 1P is an all tube MM/MC phono stage designed to satisfy the most critical vinyl enthusiast. The PRE 1P, utilizing innovative circuitry, careful parts selection and uncompromising craftsmanship, enables the vinyl enthusiast to hear ALL the music locked in those grooves. The PRE 1P realizes tight accurate bass, lightning fast transients, high frequency detail and extension, all attributes normally ascribed to solid state, without the edginess or hardness for which transistorized products are sometimes known. The all tube PRE 1P preserves natural sound staging, depth and imaging with the harmonic integrity of the musical performance as only vacuum tubes can.

DESIGN FEATURES:

ALL TUBE DESIGN:
The PRE 1P, a third generation phono design, is the culmination and refinement of basic circuitry developed for our original Sonic Frontiers SFP-1 and Anthem PRE 1 phono designs combined with new and advanced power supply technology.

A total of four dual triode (two - 6922/E88CC; two - 12AT7/ECC81) vacuum tubes are utilized. A cascoded triode front end, optimized for low noise and linearity, preserves the natural musical harmonic structure. A high degree of resistance to input overload ensures total freedom from dynamic compression. Painstaking attention has been paid to achieve accurate split passive/active RIAA equalization to minimize alteration of musical timbre. An advanced mu-follower output stage provides the necessary voltage gain and current to drive even difficult loads.

ADVANCED POWER SUPPLY: Exclusive use of low noise, low impedance shunt regulation techniques effectively removes the power supply as a potential source of frequency dependent coloration and low level noise disturbances. The most obvious benefit realized is vastly improved resolution of low level detail and information retrieval. Separate shunt regulators for each channel minimize inter-channel crosstalk, enhancing stereo separation for stable well defined imaging and sound stage presentation. The heart of the shunt regulator system, a precision voltage reference, is the stable voltage reference source to which the shunts are locked to and track. A fourth, high current series pass regulator, is utilized for the vacuum tube filament supplies, ensuring long, stable tube life.

EXCEPTIONAL PARTS QUALITY: Uncommon attention to component part selection has been paid, in a effort to provide a synergistic balance of device characteristics. Rel-Cap, and ERO custom capacitors; Roderstein, IRC and Holco resistors; and Kimber Kable hook-up wire have been selected for the best price/performance ratio in today's audio market.

PCB LAYOUT: Largely overlooked, correct circuit board layout is of extreme importance for low noise, preservation of signal integrity and immunity to RFI and other parasitic effects. Careful track layout, parts placement and use of low loss high performance FR4 base material with SMOBC construction, combined with our exclusive ISO-MASK process, ensures optimum performance.

MC & MM PHONO CAPABILITY (.4mV cartridges or greater): The PRE 1P has been designed as the ultimate entry level phono stage with features and performance to satisfy even advanced audiophiles. MC capability is a great addition to an already excellent sounding phono stage.