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…
(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.
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Here is the artwork for the front and back panels of the LDR6 Passive Preamplifier.
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