Active vs Passive Preamp Debate
In this article we take a closer look at what’s going on behind the active vs passive preamp debate and hopefully develop a better understanding so we can all make wiser choices.
Passive Preamps
LDR V25 Preamp Controller Released
Update: April 9, 2017 – The new V25 LDR Preamp Controller board has been released to manufacture and we expect to begin shipping units later this month. The design of the V25 evolved rapidly to overtake our plans for a subsequent V3 thus making the V25 the new V3. Confused? Read on!
LDRx vs. LDR3.V2 – A Tale of Two LDR Preamps
Although we never set out to deliberately cause confusion we have nonetheless succeeded. What confusion you ask? The confusion that arises when prospective customers diligently comb through our website trying to understand the differences between two of our LDR preamps; the LDRx ($1795) and the LDR3.V2 ($1195). The essential confusion can be summed up by this typical prospective customer query: “It appears the differences between these two preamps …
Top 5 Reasons To Choose LDR Passive Preamps
1 – Better Conductor of Music Preamps are, first and foremost, devices for controlling volume. 99%+ of all preamps do this by throttling the audio signal through some type of mechanical device made with resistive materials. Devices like a potentiometer (worst) or stepped attenuator (better). The unfortunate reality is the materials in these devices, together with their mechanical interface points, alter the audio signal in ways that are not …
Make Your Own DIY Audiophile Preamp
(Updated: June 2017) Build your own audiophile DIY passive preamp using our complete kits or just a few key components and your own custom enclosure.
Customer Brings Tortuga Preamp To Axpona
While chatting recently with a customer (which I love doing BTW) he mentioned that he would be attending Axpona in Chicago and asked if Tortuga Audio would also be at the show. I told him that, unfortunately, circumstances prevented Tortuga Audio from being at Axpona this year. He suggested that in that case he might take his single input Tortuga LDR1.V2B balanced passive preamp along with him to Axpona. …
What is a Preamplifier and Why Passive?
The Perfect Preamplifier – No Preamp At All If you read enough articles on high performance audio you eventually encounter the definition of a perfect preamp: no preamp at all. Just a short wire between the source and the amplifier. Purity of audio signal unsullied by intervening gear. The problem with no preamp (or a perfect “wire preamp”) is most music sources put out a high enough voltage signal …
LDR1B.V2 Balanced Passive Preamp
Single Input Balanced Passive Preamp March 15, 2015 – Tortuga Audio is pleased to release the LDR1B.V2 Balanced Passive Preamp. The LDR1B.V2 is the latest model in our LDR (light dependent resistor) based passive preamp product line and is our second model offering attenuation for balanced audio. Unlike its more expensive big brother, the LDRxB, the LDR1B.V2 has only a single XLR input with dual (parallel) XLR outputs. It uses the …
Tortuga Audio to Release LDRx & LDRxB Passive Preamps
LDRx and LDRxB Passive Preamps [Click on pic thumbnails for larger views] The LDRx & LDRxB were released in the fall of 2014. More info on the LDRx can be found here. New LDRxB Balanced Passive Preamp After an epic gestation period, we are pleased to announce the imminent release of our first balanced LDR passive preamp – the LDRxB. The LDRxB Balanced Passive Preamp is for the discriminating …
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The Evolution of LDR Volume Control
LDR Volume Control There’s growing recognition within the community of audio enthusiasts (a.k.a. audiophiles) that LDRs (light dependent resistors) deliver the best sounding volume control technology available today. Over the past 5 years, Tortuga Audio has been leading the charge to evolve and perfect LDR based volume control. In Q2 2017 Tortuga Audio released its fourth generation LDR technology which is included in all of our current passive preamp …
LDR3 Replaces LDR1 | LDR6 Price Reduction
LDR3: Based on input from current and prospective customers, we are retiring the LDR1 effective immediately and replacing it with the LDR3. The LDR3 is our “Goldilocks” passive preamp. Not too few inputs like the LDR1 and not too many like the LDR6. Just right with 3 inputs & 2 outputs. Pricing: We are pleased to be offering the LDR3 at the same price as the LDR1 – $1195. …
LDR3B Balanced Passive Preamp – Final Update (9.1.14)
UPDATE – 9.1.14 The LDR3B is now the LDRxB and was released on September 1st, 2014. More info on the LDRxB can be found here.
Tortuga Audio Goes To Harvard With Dual Mono Preamps
The best part of being in the high value audio design and manufacturing business is working with customers who have more interesting ideas than you do. A recent example is when a full professor at Harvard University contacted us and asked if we could provide a pair of mono passive preamplifiers for his home audio rig. Dual Mono Preamps? Yes, mono preamps. As in a two single channel LDR …
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Is a Passive Preamp Right For You?
The debate over passive vs. active preamps mushes on within the audio community with the prevailing wisdom being that an active preamp is better than any/all passive preamps. Is this really true? As with so many things in life the answer is….it depends.
LDR6 Passive Preamp Review (and “Recommended” award) From HiFi Pig
Our First Product Review We are quite pleased to announce that our friends at HiFiPig.com have published their review of our LDR6 Passive Preamplifier. Even better, we’ve been awarded their “Recommended” status. The award is given only to those products that we have reviewed and believe fulfill the following criteria: “A Hi-fi component that we feel offers exceptional performance at (or despite of) its price point”. The folks at …
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Customer Review of the LDR1 Passive Preamplifier
Our First Customer Reivew One of our recent customers shared his initial impressions of our LDR1 Passive Preamplifier. Here’s an unedited reprint of that review. I’ve had my LDR1 for a week so it’s time to write my initial impressions. Let me state up front that the LDR1 is the most pure, neutral, transparent, noise-free and grain-free component I have ever heard. Because of this, it sounds even better …
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The Case for Passive Preamplifiers
The Perfect Preamplifier If you read enough articles on high-end audio you eventually encounter the definition of a perfect preamp: no preamp at all. Just a short wire between the line source and the amplifier. Purity of audio signal maintained unsullied by intervening gear. All fine and good provided you live alone, have few neighbors nearby, and don’t give a fig about going deaf. Let’s move on. An Active …
Tortuga Audio Launches Website & LDR6 Passive Preamp
CAPE CORAL, Florida (October 1, 2012) – Today, Tortuga Audio launched its website/store (www.tortugaaudio.com) highlighting its new LDR6 Passive Preamp. The LDR6 is the first of several high value audio products that Tortuga Audio plans on releasing over the next year geared towards discriminating music lovers interested in high performance 2-channel stereo audio. The LDR6 is designed around the use of audio grade light dependent resistors (LDRs) that are …
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LDR6 Passive Preamplifier Update
Here is the artwork for the front and back panels of the LDR6 Passive Preamplifier.