Innovative passive & active preamp technology
Article discusses Rev B update to the original power board on the Rev A V3 Max power board with a more robust and efficient design. Same update incorporated into the smaller V3 Mini electronic stepped attenuators going forward.
What if, after 180+ years of mechanical pots and stepped attenuators, there was another way to approach high performance audio volume control?
(Update 9.15.20) Following a year and a half of development, we are pleased to announce the release of our new ePot.V3 Mini and Max electronic stepped attenuators & preamp controllers. Although long in coming, the ePot.V3 products are the best sounding electronic stepped attenuators and preamp controllers we’ve designed to date. We are really excited about these new beauties and are confident you’ll enjoy them as well. Below you’ll …
New Electronic Stepped Attenuators Released Sept 2020 Read More »
The LDR300x.V3 preamp (passive & active versions) replaces our long running LDR3.V25 Passive Preamp and reintroduces an updated version of our short-lived LDR300.V25 Buffered Preamp that was discontinued in early 2019.
Tortuga Audio had a great time and a fantastic sounding room at the inaugural Florida Audio Expo in Tampa, Florida in February 2019. Here are some comments and pictures from that show. The show went off without a hitch, was well attended and the organizers can be quite proud of all the hard work that went into conceiving, planning and executing this new audio show. A show in sunny …
Comments and Pictures From Florida Audio Expo 2019 Read More »
Update: 3.27.2020 – This article has been amended to reflect the name ePot.V3 superseding the earlier name of LDR.V1 A High Performance Stepped Attenuator Tortuga Audio is developing the ePot.V3 as a direct successor model to the LDR.V25 Preamp Controller that includes a version (the ePot.V3 “Mini”) that is intended as a drop-in replacement for practically any stereo audio volume control potentiometer or stepped attenuator. The ePot uses high …
Tortuga Audio plans to release its new LDR300.V25 Buffered Preamp on August 28. The LDR300 is a remote controlled, singled-ended, active preamplifier that combines Tortuga Audio’s popular LDR (photoresistor) attenuation technology together with a powerful JFET output buffer to deliver robust sonics that will satisfy the most discerning audio enthusiast.
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.
In May 2018 we released a newer and better display for our line of LDR preamps. Driven by our latest V25 Preamp Controller, the new graphic OLED display (Organic Light Emitting Diode) provides an intuitive and easy to use control interface that replaces our earlier dual 2-digit 7-segment displays.
Designed around the excellent current production 6H30 tube, we’ve concluded that the TPB.V1 Tube Buffer is also compatible with the entire family of 9-pin 6DJ8 / ECC88 / 6922 / 7308 tubes which opens up a big wide world of tube rolling possibilities. And while the 6H30 is a great sounding tube for the Tortuga buffer, I’m already convinced that some of these alternative tubes will yield sonic improvements. …
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!
Update – March 1, 2017 – The TPB.V1 Hybrid Tube Preamp Buffer has been released. A review of the TPB.V1 can be found here.
Effective May 14, 2016 we are releasing version 2.2 of our firmware including changes in how the Apple Remote is used to control Tortuga Audio preamps. All new preamps will ship with the 2.2 firmware. Owners of existing V2 series preamps including the LDRx and LDRxB can upgrade to the 2.2 firmware if they wish.
LDR3.V2 Passive Preamp Awarded Tortuga Audio is pleased to announce that its LDR3.V2 Passive Preamp has made the list of The Absolute Sound’s Editors’ Choice Awards for 2016. Details regarding the Editors’ Choice Awards will be made available in the March issue of The Absolute Sound which is scheduled to be mailed out on January 28th. About the Editors’ Choice Awards The Absolute Sound’s Editor’s Choice Awards is an …
LDR3.V2 Passive Preamp Receives 2016 Editors’ Choice Award Read More »
The original title to this article was going to be “The balanced audio “pin 1 problem” visits Tortuga Audio and how we hummed along with it – and then stopped.” Too much? I thought so too. There’s a particular recurring problem in audio design that’s such a perennial PITA that it even has its own website: pin1problem.com That, I would argue, is some accomplishment. You would think that a …
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 …
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 …
(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.
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. …
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 …
Adjustable Impedance March 1, 2015 – Tortuga Audio has released a major firmware update that adds adjustable impedance it its LDR Passive Preamp product line. Adjustable impedance allows the user to change the input impedance of their LDR passive preamp. This firmware update also includes an upgraded auto-calibration algorithm resulting in improved sound stage and stereo imaging. The Adjustable Impedance feature allows the user to set up 5 different …
Summary As 2014 rolls to a close, we are pleased to announce the following expanded product offerings including the LDR3.V2 Passive Preamp plus year end specials and price changes. New V2.1 Version of our DIY LDR3x Passive Preamp Controller board is available for for pre-order @ $199 through Jan 5th ($259 thereafter). Reintroducing the LDR3 in both a DIY kit version and also as a finished preamp with upgraded features. …
New Products, Pricing & Holiday Year End Specials Read More »
When Ron Brenay of NewRecordDay.com visited our room at RMAF14 he discovered he really didn’t want to leave. Why? Because he was having such a good time listening to music on our system. He was sufficiently impressed that he asked if I’d do a video interview and although I’m camera shy to a fault I couldn’t turn Ron down. His enthusiasm for audio is too infectious to be denied. …
LDRx & LDRxB Passive Preamps Now Available On September 1st we officially released the new LDRx/LDRxB passive preamps to manufacture. The LDRx is a single ended passive preamp with 3 inputs (optional 4th & 5th) and 2 outputs. The LDRxB is a balanced version with 3 XLR inputs, 1 RCA inputs (up converted to balanced internally) plus 2 XLR and 1 RCA output. The LDRx and LDRxB are our …
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 …
Tortuga Audio to Release LDRx & LDRxB Passive Preamps Read More »
What Is This Notice About? Since initial release of the ldr3x.V2 board we’ve been actively evaluating how auto-calibration is set up on the V2 board with the help of feedback from our V2 customers and even input from prospective customers. As a result of this work, we are making some changes to auto-calibration. Also, we are making changes to the bootloader firmware to correct some problems during the 5 …
Tortuga Audio to Release LDR3x.V2 Preamp Controller on May 7th With the imminent release of the LDR3x.V2, Tortuga Audio launches the most advanced LDR based audio attenuator and preamp controller available today. The LDR3x.V2 combines the extraordinary sonic performance of LDRs (light dependent resistors) with self-contained auto-calibration to ensure long term optimal performance and value. Auto-calibration represents our third generation LDRx technology. You can read more about the evolution of our …
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 …
All newly built Tortuga Audio LDRx preamps that ship on or after March 1, 2014 will incorporate an upgraded internal power supply design resulting in improved audio quality. The improved sound quality manifests as a darker, quieter background between notes and a corresponding increased expression of detail. Since the LDRx sound is clear and detailed to begin with, this is quite a remarkable evolution. The upgrade replaces internal linear …
Version 1 Sold Out & Discontinued As of 3.2.14 we are sold out of the Version 1 LDR3x Preamp Controller Board. Version 1 has been discontinued and thus we are no longer accepting orders for the V1 board. Version 2 Availability & Pre-orders The original LDR3x is being replaced by the soon to be released LDR3x Version 2 (LDR3x.V2). We are targeting release of the LDR3x.V2 by April 1st the first …
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. …
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.
Better LDR Passive Preamp Sound Tortuga Audio has developed an improved software based LDR control algorithm that greatly improves on our already highly regarded LDRx Passive Preamps. Key aspects of this new “HiZ” (high impedance) control algorithm include: Substantially increased input impedance with a nominal 10k ohm impedance floor Improved sound including better dynamics, musicality and sound stage Compatibility with a much broader range of audio sources and amplifiers …
New HiZ Control Software Yields Major Improvement To LDR Passive Preamps Read More »
As a follow-up to our original post below, we wanted to share some unsolicited feedback from a recent LDR3x customer. Note that the LDR3x board is our second generation LDR preamp board design that builds on the success of the original LDR1/LDR6 passive preamps. A pair of LDR3x boards will be the twin beating hearts of our upcoming LDR3B Balanced Passive Preamp product. “Today I received the LDR3x board and …
Tortuga Audio Releases LDR3x Preamp Controller Board for DIY Community (Aug 8th update) Read More »
I’m pleased to announce that 6moons.com has published a very favorable review of our LDR6 passive preamp. It’s quite an extensive review including background on its development and an in depth description on what goes into the building of each of our LDR preamps. My favorite statement by the reviewer: The Tortuga Audio preamp equaled or surpassed all basic performance parameters against any contenders I had in house, passive, …
6moons Reviews Tortuga Audio’s LDR6 Passive Preamp Read More »
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 …
Tortuga Audio Goes To Harvard With Dual Mono Preamps Read More »
As we work to expand our line of next generation preamp products built around light dependent resistors (LDRs), we also plan to soon introduce an LDR based preamp controller board, and related products, for the Do It Yourself (DIY) audio community. As we’ve previously announced, Tortuga Audio is actively developing a balanced version of its preamp line – the LDR3B Passive Preamplifier. This development work has led us to …
Tortuga Audio Plans LDR3X Preamplifier Controller for DIY Community Read More »
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.
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 …
LDR6 Passive Preamp Review (and “Recommended” award) From HiFi Pig Read More »
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 …
Customer Review of the LDR1 Passive Preamplifier Read More »
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 …
Tortuga Audio Launches Website & LDR6 Passive Preamp Read More »
Here is the artwork for the front and back panels of the LDR6 Passive Preamplifier.