Vinyl Asylum: REVIEW: Liberty Audio B2B-1 Phono Preamp by EdAInWestOC

Model:	B2B-1
Category:	Phono Preamp
Suggested Retail Price:	$1749
Description:	All Fet Class A Phono Preamp
Manufacturer URL:	Liberty Audio
Model Picture:	View

Review by EdAInWestOC on February 28, 2016 at 20:22:48
IP Address: 73.129.54.230 Add Your Review
for the B2B-1

The Liberty Audio B2B-1 Phono Preamp is a product that has been around for a few years now and in that time it has been reviewed by major publications and online audio sites. In every review the B2B-1 has been found to be neutral, dynamic, extremely quiet and in my 12 days of experience with the preamp I have been equally impressed with this preamp, like all of the other reviewers.

First of all...the B2B-1 is so quiet you have no idea it is turned on. I have experimented with the Liberty and plugged in a set of ICs into the cartridge input and set the volume of my line stage (Audible Illusions L1 w/National 7DJ8 tubes) to maximum. I had to walk over to the speaker to hear any hint that the B2B-1 was on. This same experiment was done with the cartridge plugged in and the results were the same.

Whatever noise level exists in the B2B-1, it is so low that you get all of the musical details. Down to the very lowest level of detail and pushing the resolution of the current pressing on your turntable. Whatever noise is generated when the stylus is riding in the groove, the noise generated by the turntable drive system and the noise that comes as part of the tape that was used for mastering the LP is all reproduced by the B2B-1 and is not lost in electronic background noise.

All of the testing so far has been performed with the B2B-1 set to MC, which is 64 db of gain, and I have the loading set to 332 ohms. With this level of gain any normal preamp would be forgiven for making some noise when you open the volume control up to maximum, but no forgiving is necessary with the B2B-1. It is absolutely quiet and gives no sense of it being powered on...even with the volume raised.

At normal listening levels, or at levels where you would rock the house (and the neighbors house), there is absolutely no background noise whatsoever. When it comes to S/N ratios this thing has to be some sort of award winner...or dammed close to it.

Projected out of the total black background is a completely neutral reproduction of what is pressed into the vinyl you are currently spinning. This preamp is not a device that will add or take away anything from the LP being spun. If you want to make your system sound like this or that, look elsewhere. The B2B-1 is brutally honest and will sound great when the LP is great and sound lousy when the LP is lousy.

It reproduces low frequencies with authority and each note is tight and well produced. If the LP has powerful bass content this preamp will shake the hell out of the listening room. The midrange is smoothly presented without any additional anything. The high end is clean and extended but has no hint of stridency or strain.

The B2B-1 has the ability to make complex passages simpler. Some phono preamps get congested and complex passages get muddled and the instruments lose definition. The B2B-1 has a way of making complex music sound more relaxed and you get the sense that there is nothing that will cause this preamp to close up or fail to do its job with ease.

The soundstage is huge and deep with precise instrument placement. The dynamics can be breathtaking. The B2B-1 refuses to sound challenged or strained by anything I have played so far. I have chosen regular and special pressings, some mastered at 45RPM, to test the preamp and it is stunning.

If you are looking for a great sounding and quiet phono preamp this is definitely a very strong candidate.

Liberty Audio is sold direct to the consumer and that is why this preamp only costs $1749. It is based on the PBN Audio Pi and PXi phono preamps ($12K and $20k devices). The circuitry is very similar with some of the cost savings coming from the power supply being placed within the same box as the phono preamp.

The B2B-1 does not have a fancy box or packaging. It arrives in a heavy plain cardboard box that has foam cut to surround and protect the B2B-1. The B2B-1 doesn't even have a user manual. You receive some 8.5 x 11" printed pages with setup instructions within.

The B2B-1 includes a small Phillips screwdriver to remove the four screws that hold down the access panel on the right hand side of the preamp. With this panel removed you can access the jumpers that set the cartridge loading and preamp setup.

The B2B-1 includes RCA inputs and balanced connectors. The B2B-1 can be used in a full differential configuration that requires you to set a jumper under the aforementioned panel and use 2 separate B2B-1s for left and right channels.

In balanced mode you get even more impressive performance but this reviewer could not verify this setup due to lack of 2 B2B-1s and the balanced cartridge setup to try the balanced configuration out.

The B2B-1 come in Black and Gray. I have the Gray faceplate with black lettering and it is a nice looking component. The B2B-1 will not win any beauty contests but all of the beauty is in the outstanding circuitry inside the cabinet. It has 2 phono jacks for input, a grounding lug, 2 phono jacks for output and two balanced connectors for use in balanced setup. There is an IEC socket for the power cord (you can substitute any upgraded like cord you like or use the one supplied), a fuse holder, and an on/off switch.

The front of the unit has a single blue LED that lets you know the unit is on.

Product Weakness:	Nothing detected so far
Product Strengths:	Everything

Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: Adcom GFA -555II
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): Audible Illusions L1
Sources (CDP/Turntable): Denon DP-62L w/Rega RB-300, Incognito Wiring, Technoweight, Riggle VTAF, Ceramic/Jewel Main Bearing
Speakers: Magnepan MGMC1
Cables/Interconnects: Kimber Hero, Kimber 8TC
Music Used (Genre/Selections): Classic Rock
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): SS Retipped Denon DL-103D LOMC Cartridge
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner

Amplifier:	Adcom GFA -555II
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Audible Illusions L1
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Denon DP-62L w/Rega RB-300, Incognito Wiring, Technoweight, Riggle VTAF, Ceramic/Jewel Main Bearing
Speakers:	Magnepan MGMC1
Cables/Interconnects:	Kimber Hero, Kimber 8TC
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Classic Rock
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	SS Retipped Denon DL-103D LOMC Cartridge
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner