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CH Precision electronics

I been mixing music professionally for over 50 years, I been on a mission looking for the world's greatest line stage for over 40 years. I have auditioned over 30 line stages, including FM acoustics, Gryphon, Cello, etc  to reference my console or DAW. A line stage is ultra critical in my application since the amount of eq, compression, reverb, delays etc., must not only translate extremely well in every other environment or playback system, but those decisions need to sound like great decisions in all other playback environments. This fact is not really understood by most audio enthusiasts. In other words, this is a deep art!    .  You can check out my studio The Mix Palace, located on Long Island, NY, USA. I differ but do not disrespect the Hi Fi enthusiast.     Most Hi Fi people, need a stereo system to entertain them. They may think they want accuracy, but sometimes a little color goes a long way to making a listening experience more enjoyable. The CH precision L1 and X1 line stage is a god send to my prayers. This is true reference grade electronics. I was looking at this line stage for over 10 years, but 55K was a sharp investment for something I could not get a demo of. Once I decided to take the chance and buy one, I was totally impressed! We have this saying in pro audio, Tried and true. IN other words most gear needs to be time tested, before making a claim of its importance, and greatness. The CH Precision L1 X1 is truly reference grade electronics, that will further my research in audio! 

micb
fatdaddy2
527 posts
 

Pro and bling are two different worlds; not conducive to a mashup.

yoyoyaya's avatar
yoyoyaya
1,053 posts
 

Possibly digressing a bit but the term "reference" doesn't really connote absolute quality. It's simply a datum point for a piece of equipment's sound quality that other equipment can be compared to.

@OP Congratulations on your studio, though, with respect, I would bin the Mackie Big Knob monitor controller and the NS 10s.

inna
8,240 posts
 

dynamiclinearity, religious statement is fine with me. Proof is in the reality. Ask CH Precision designers privately, and other designers of extraordinary overpriced transistor line amplifiers, they might say the same. Problem is that they want to make a lot of relatively easy money and some of them do indeed.

With power amps a discussion is possible but with phono and line amps everyone knows what I said. Everyone with hearing.

micb's avatar
micb OP
8 posts
 

Thanks everyone for all your feedback. Since I use this "tool" (CH L1 X1) for a different purpose, I just thought it would be thoughtful to share my experience. Please keep in mind I always compare what I do threw that line stage , to many other client's reference system.  I was told about spectral from a dear friend of mine that is part owner of Berkeley Audio Labs. Here is the problem with almost every other preamp available in the world. They all have too much gain. Some 8 db some 18 db. If your feeding a +4 DBM nominal signal into a preamp, (most balanced DAC outputs) and the preamp has gain built in, it will fundamentally reduce headroom and resolution. 

As you can see the better I can reference truly the resolution of the source, the better I can adjust my compressors for a translatable mix/product . 

In Hi Fi the ultimate goal should be a system that entertains you. For me I need accuracy, so my clients hear the same thing I hear. 

PS The Spectral preamp has set gain I believe of 10 or 18 DB . The CH precision is the only preamp I know of that enables you to disconnect the +18 db gain stage, thus making it 0db in 0db out with volume control all the way up! 

If ANYONE knows of a active line stage ( not passive) with NO additional gain  built in please share. I am always open minded

micb's avatar
micb OP
8 posts
 

Yes I still use my EMT plates. 

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