LDR2 Passive Preamplifier

Price: $1,295

This is a legacy product and is no longer produced or sold by Tortuga Audio.

The LDR2 is a passive (unity gain), single-controller, 2-input attenuator/preamp that uses digitally controlled audio-grade LDRs in place of a potentiometer for volume control — and in place of conventional relays, so there’s nothing mechanical in the signal path. Everything is manually controllable via a single rotary encoder, though most owners used the remote instead.

The LDR2 is a customized version of the LDR1, with 2 inputs instead of 1 and priced $100 higher. It also adds 2 status LEDs on the front panel indicating which input is active. Because it required fabricating customized parts, the LDR2 was a custom order with an expected lead time of up to 2 weeks from order to ship.

All passive preamps sold or shipped after November 15, 2013 — including the LDR2 — included the HiZ software control algorithm upgrade.