Amp/Preamp Asylum: REVIEW: IRD audio Purist - model LLC-P Preamplifier (SS) by hsheldon@aol.com Looking for a new Amp or Preamp? If you're after tubes, post over here.

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Model:	Purist - model LLC-P
Category:	Preamplifier (SS)
Suggested Retail Price:	$950
Description:	No Nonsense Ultra Precision Low THD+Noise LLC
Manufacturer URL:	IRD audio
Manufacturer URL:	IRD audio

Review by hsheldon@aol.com ( A ) on September 22, 2003 at 14:01:05 IP Address: 64.12.96.202

Add Your Review for the Purist - model LLC-P

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IRD LLC-P (Purist) Preamp(Rev. 1.01)

My system: Stan Warren Modded Phillips SACD-1000
IRD Purist Preamp
Acoustic Reality Ear One Mk11 Monoblocks
Monitor Audio Speakers R452/MD
Straight Wire Chorus Interconnects
Groneberg Quattro Reference Interconnects
Straight Wire Octave 2 Speaker Cable

This is a review of the IRD Purist Preamp. I read about the Purist before purchasing it on the ird-thailand.com website. I emailed many questions about the preamp to the designer Curt Wishman . He was gracious enough to take out much time to answer my many emails to him at length. He is a personable, informative and helpful audio professional.

The Purist has a simple but elegant look, especially with the black faceplate that is now the standard edition. The quality of the cabinet is outstanding and the high quality stainless steel knobs really stand out nicely against the black faceplate. This is the kind of craftsmanship that an audiophile should expect from a high-end audio component.

The LLC-P has a large torroidal transformer that does not even seem to get warm when the unit is functioning. The circuit design is dual mono; each channel has its own regulated power supply with six large filter capacitors and 12 bypass capacitors none of which are in the signal path. This preamp has four sets of inputs and two sets of outputs; one set of outputs can be used to drive a subwoofer. It has 3 different gain settings, a mute switch and a pink noise generator. The volume is controlled by a precision Swiss made ladder stepped attenuator that has only two resistors in the signal path

According to Curt, the Purist needs about 100 hours of break-in time. I noticed in the first few hours of the break-in process that the sound had a bit of glare to it but this glare completely faded away after about 15 hours. The Purist was set on 6db and played for about 100 hours before I gave it a serious listen. Summarizing the sonics, the Purist has very little if any of its own character except to smooth out the sound and make it more natural. Before receiving the Purist I had my Phillips SACD-1000 connected directly into my monoblocks for a few days and there was a slight harshness to the sound possibly partially caused by the high volume output of the speakers in this type of arrangement. With the Purist between these components the harshness was gone replaced by a fluidic natural sound coming from a dead quiet background. This preamp is very detailed, natural, soundstages well, has excellent imaging and is tonally balanced. Also the timbral accuracy is right-on: a violin sounding like a violin, cymbals sounding like cymbals etc. The palpability of each instrument is a highly realistic, in the room experience. Setting the gain setting to 0db the soundstage did go a bit deeper behind the speakers; the sound being a little more laid back, and natural.

I have auditioned other solid-state preamps i.e. Morrison Elad, Tempest, and the Front Ear. These are all fine active preamps but are not in the same class as the Purist. One of the most beautiful aspects of the Purist is that it has no solid-state (electronic) sound, which is generally attributed to SS preamps. It just funnels the source sound from the player to the amps adding nothing negative that is detectable. Incidentally the Little Wonder, which is a passive preamp, was in my system for about a year. During this time I have changed my amp and cdp and the result was the LW became incompatible with my present components or vice versa. With the correct compatible components the LW is an excellent preamp that has very realistic sonics, a true compliment to the right system.

The following CDs have certain sonic attributes that were used to test the Purist. The Mask of Zorro CD specifically the “The Plaza of Execution” piece can show sudden attack (transient response) as well as the depth and width of the soundstage of a system. The Purist depicts the few mini-attacks of the strumming bass guitar at the very beginning of this piece very strikingly, with plenty of palpability and gusto. About a minute into the piece the major attack, when the entire orchestra begins to play, is jaw dropping. The orchestra seemed to have a wide soundstage with the music being projected about 2 or 3 feet to the left and right of each respective speaker. The shoe tapping against the dance floor, during the first minute, soundstaged at least 6 feet behind my speakers.

Two of the most difficult instruments to accurately reproduce by an audio system are the drums and the piano. In The Garden of Souls by VAS the “Ceremony of Passage” has garbs of very fast playing drums, which the Purist was easily able to keep up with nimbly portraying the correct timbral characteristics. The bass sound of the drums was deep, tight and extended.

The Jacques Loussier Baroque Favorites (Telarc) is a collection of jazz improvisations on several classical pieces. In the “La sonnerie de Sainte-Genevieve du Mont”(alla “Take Five”) the piano is realistically rendered with accurate timbre and texture against the background of cymbals and drums.

The Hunter CD sung by Jennifer Warnes was used to test the control and deepness of the bass response. The 8’th piece “Way Down Deep”, the Purist hit the low frequencies of the drums with no bloatiness, very cleanly and accurately. Also Jennifers voice is so realistically portrayed you would swear she was right in the room. Very scary.

Another voice that comes across scarily realistic is Patricia Barbers’ in Patricia Barber Companion (XRCD) in the “Use Me” piece. The tight, tuneful bass fidel against the sound of Patricia’s voice in this nightclub setting CD is awesome. It’s like you are there sitting at a table in the club listening to her sing right in front of you.

Bags Groove Miles Davis Prestige 7109 CD in the piece Bags Groove (Take 2) gave the Purist an opportunity to show-off its imaging abilities. Each of the instruments seems to have its own dimension of space with plenty of air and the proper amount of decay when its part was finished. On some preamps the instruments can seem to fall on top of one another but on the Purist they have plenty of separate space. This preamp was able to image so precisely on the vibes, played by Milt Jackson, that it was possible to pinpoint the playing of each note within two or three inches in space. The trumpet (Miles Davis) seems to eerily hover about a foot above and in the center of my speakers.

In short the Purist is a preamp that has very little character of its own (can be set to 0db to be even more neutral) and musically involves you with the music. This is the first solid-state active preamp that I have ever really enjoyed listening to except for the Jeff Rowland Consummate preamp, which is in my uncles’ system. With my limited experience with preamps I cannot say that this is the best preamp out there but I am sure it is one of the best. Curt Wishman has designed and manufactured a reference preamp that is a real winner.

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Product Weakness:	None
Product Strengths:	Neutrality, naturalness, detailed, exceptional imaging, realistic, good soundstaging. Music from dead quiet background.

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Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Acoustic Reality Ear One Mk11 Monoblocks
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	IRD Purist Preamp
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Stan Warren Modded Philips SACD-1000
Speakers:	Monitor Audio Speakers R452/MD
Cables/Interconnects:	Straight Wire Chorus & Groneberg Quattro Reference
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Popular, Jazz, Motion Picture.
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

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