If you're looking for the ultimate in transparency, and an unbelievably accurate pre-amp, then we have the product for you. Spot on imaging and an extremely wide sound stage are just a few attributes of our STP preamp.

"Tube aficionados could be quite shocked to discover that the STP aces the dynamic and timbre expander action one traditionally expects predominantly from superior valve units. Compared to most of those I've had through, the STP is quieter and hence, more resolved." --- Srajan Ebaen

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Highlights

There are so many particulars that make the STP superior to other preamps. The best possible preamp would be one that didn't exist! We have created the closest anyone has ever come to that while still offering a fully functional preamp. For the cleanest sound, what goes in should come out, nothing less, nothing more. For this we've made our preamp passive and active at the same time. To keep the signal path clean as possible, the line stage is automatically switched in when needed, and left out when not. This offers the quietest operation for any level up to unity gain. Noise in the passive modeis <6uV, and<18uV in the active mode which is incredibly good. And yes, this product is fully balanced input to output.

When we say passive, we mean as in no gain. We all know that all passive preamps have many issues regarding input and output impedances. These issues are massive because of the lack of drive current the preamp is able to produce. The result is a loose, floppy bottom end, and a constricted, dry top end. To solve this, we inserted our Ultra-transparent discrete buffer stages to address this issue, which proved to give us remarkable results.

Like any audio electronic product, everything starts with a power supply. This is the first stage that gives the STP unbelievably clean power. With a 25A Schottky bridge rectifier connected through 164,560+uF of capacitance in our proprietary TRR (Triple-Ripple-Reduction) power supply circuit, the STP preamp has more capacitance than some amplifiers! By the time power reserves supply the audio chain with power, there is no hint of noise left to buzz through your speakers. Of course we left 2 stages of filtering up to nothing but the best; the Nichicon Bi-polar MUSE audio grade capacitors do a fantastic job!

Our proprietary fully balanced dual FET unity gain buffers supply the meat behind the curtains. While being sonically transparent, our buffers keep the input and output impedance right where we want them and don?t allow for deviations like so many other passive preamps. Hand selected, matched and adjusted, each pair ensures minimal DC offset, and maximum linearity.

Every preamp has to have a volume control. This is also a HUGE part in why our unit differs. The easy route (practically everyone else takes) consists of putting audio in and out of a volume control chip. While being cost effective and easy to design, the audio is left at the mercy the chip. The best possible electrical connection that can be made and released on command is made by a switch. The best sounding switch is one that has the least resistance and can maintain at all frequencies, for this we chose to use relays. While much more expensive, slower and noisier when switching, they are far more sonically superior to any switcher chip on the market today.

The second part of our volume control is the resistors. That's right, relays and resistors are the only components interacting with the audio signal. Like all our other products, we use Dale rn55d copper leaded precision resistors. Supplying exceedingly accurate channel to channel level matching (+/- 0.05db) and isolation(>106db), our discrete volume control is the most transparent and spaciously sounding attenuator we've heard. A maximum attenuation of 128db will quiet the loudest of sources, and as little as 0.5db steps allow for the finest control.

With 2 sets of balanced inputs/outputs, 3 sets of unbalanced inputs and 2 sets unbalanced outputs, connection possibilities are vast. Being fully balanced input to output; the phase going in comes out. When an unbalanced input is selected, an inversion circuit is connected to maintain balanced outputs and optimum versatility. Absolute phase and balance control are easily selected through the supplied remote for those out of phase recordings, and room adjustments to be made on the fly.

User interface is made easy with the VFD display and optical rotary encoder. Allowing input naming and HT Bypass input selection, the setup menu is easily accessed for customization. Several display dimming steps including "off" are available through the remote for stealth operation. Powering up the STP can be done several ways, by pushing in on the volume knob (power button), by pressing power on the remote, or by the remote DC trigger input when HT Bypass is selected in the setup menu. When an input is selected to be used as the HT input, the DC trigger can be activated by a surround processor to "Power up" the unit, and automatically set the volume to unity gain. This allows for all volume controls to be made through the surround processor. When the processor is shut down, so is the STP and connected gear through the DC trigger output. When 2ch listening is desired, then manual operation can be executed from the front of the unit, or through the remote.

Specifications

"Tube aficionados could be quite shocked to discover that the STP aces the dynamic and timbre expander action one traditionally expects predominantly from superior valve units. Compared to most of those I've had through, the STP is quieter and hence, more resolved." --- Srajan Ebaen