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Mini Passive Preamp• Worldwide Shipping
• 14 Day Returns
• 2 Year Warranty
Normally dispatches in 5-8 working days.Backordered. Expected to begin shipping .This unit is B-Grade and has minor cosmetic imperfections. See condition description above for more details. The unit is otherwise brand new and covered by our 2 year warranty.
A simple line controller with audiophile acclaimed sound quality. Use it to switch between multiple sources, connect multiple amps, control active speakers or add outputs for a subwoofer, headphone amp or just about any line-level device.SMD Stepped Attenuator
Key to the excellent sound quality is the stepped attenuator, which utilises an array of thin film SMD resistors to provide precise, stepped volume control and excellent channel balance at all levels. New Look, More Inputs and Outputs
Our second generation preamp now has 3 inputs, 2 configurable outputs and a laser engraved walnut + aluminium enclosure. The chassis is longer, more substantial and remains stable with heavy cables. Selectable Fixed Attenuation
A new feature is the selectable attenuation, which allows you to reduce the signal by a fixed -10 dB or -20 dB. If your system has too much gain and you can't turn the volume dial past 12 o'clock without hearing damage, this setting will help.Configurable Outputs
Output 1 is the primary output and its level is set by the volume control. Output 2 can be configured (by switches on the base) as either an additional primary output, or as a 'tape loop', to bypass the volume control and loopout to another device.Made in England
Based in Wiltshire, our products are designed, made and tested entirely in house for true British quality hi-fi.
Reviews
TNT Audio
"Unbeatable offer. Highly recommended."
HiFi Pig
"So transparent is the Tisbury that it has very little influence that I can detect in my system."
AV Revolution
"In audio, sometimes less can actually mean more... The Tisbury Audio Mini Passive II is one of those rare things."Technical Specifications Enclosure
Handmade American black walnut facia and anodised aluminium body, laser engraved markings.Attenuator
1% tolerance thin film SMD resistors, ±0.25 dB channel balance at all levels, gold plated contacts. 2-3 dB per step.Size D x W x H150mm x 105mm x 60mmInput Impedance10 kOhmsOutput Impedance (at full volume)0 OhmsFixed Attenuation0 dB, -10 dB, -20 dB. Set by switches on base.Power SupplyNone (it's passive!)Number of Inputs3 x RCANumber of Outputs2 x RCAOutput 1Variable - level set by volume control.Output 2Variable or Loop modes, set by switches on base.Output 2 - Variable
Level set by volume control along with Output 1. Provides a second main output for connecting another amplifier, active subwoofer etc.Output 2 - Loop
Often called a 'tape loop'. Bypasses the volume control. Use this to loop out to a headphone amp or other device without adjusting the volume.Frequently Asked Questions
What is a passive preamp?
The Mini Passive Preamp is fundamentally a high quality volume control and input selector in a box. It has no power supply or active components inside, resulting in some of the most transparent sound quality around for a fraction of the price of its active counterparts.Why should I be using one?
Most modern sources have more than enough output voltage to drive an amplifier directly, and pairing with an active preamp can often result in too much gain, high noise and loss of sound quality. In this situation, a 'passive' can offer the most elegant solution. It's also small, cheap, good looking, and has a very high WAF (Wife Acceptance Factor).Will my system work?
As a passive preamp has no gain, your source must have sufficient output voltage to drive your amp to full power (known as the 'input sensitivity'). Digital sources (CD player, DAC etc.) will generally work perfectly. Vinyl gear comes in a much wider variety, so it gets its own answer below.I have a turntable. Will my system work?
You'll need a seperate phono stage, preferably with multiple gain settings so you can pick the setting that works best with your amp. If your phono stage doesn't have adjustable gain then we can check compatibility to make sure you'll get enough volume. Just let us know the make and model of your cartridge, phono stage, and amp and we should be able to find the rest.Does it matter what cables I use?
No, you can safely use most cables up to 5-10 meters in length without any problems.Do I need to worry about impedances?
No. While some passives do require careful impedance matching, the Mini preamp does not suffer from this issue, even when driving multiple amps at the same time. This is because the type of attenuator used has an output impedance of 0 ohms at full volume, meaning it becomes a straight-through connection.What type of attenuators do you use?
Our SMD stepped attenuators use a 'series' configuration, meaning they use a track of resistors connected in series and the volume is varied by moving the output up and down the track. This mimics a standard potentiometer and is ideal for audio. They typically have long life, low operation noise, extremely high sound quality, and fairly consistent impedance throughout their range.
14 Day Returns & Warranty
You can try out our products in your own home for up to 14 days. Simply notify us within this time if you would like to return a product. For more information, see our returns policy viewable on our website.
2 Year Warranty
The Mini Passive Preamp is covered by a 2 year limited warranty on parts and labour. If you get any problems with your item in this time, we'll repair or replace it at no charge, subject to warranty terms available on our website.
About Us
We are a small and passionate company based in Wiltshire, England. Our mission is to build amazing quality products with superb sound, good looks and down to earth prices. Everything is designed, soldered, assembled and tested by hand in our Wiltshire workshop, giving you the best of British artisan hi-fi.We only sell factory-direct online. By not using dealers and distributors, we are able to set our prices around 50% lower, meaning most of the final cost goes where it should: into quality parts and labour. We ship worldwide, and even if you're ordering from across the globe, it's still often a better deal to buy direct than through a local dealer.
