Amp/Preamp Asylum: REVIEW: FT Audio LW-1 Preamplifier (SS) by Budrew

Model:	LW-1
Category:	Preamplifier (SS)
Suggested Retail Price:	$500.00
Description:	passive preamp
Manufacturer URL:	Not Available
Manufacturer URL:	Not Available

Review by Budrew ( A ) on November 13, 2002 at 20:44:44
IP Address: 216.175.111.24

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I have had the FT Audio LW-1 passive premp in my system for 2 weeks now. The rest of my system includes a Pass Alepth 30 amplifier, Electrocompaniet EMC-1 CD player, Tannoy D500 speakers (fairly efficient), and Tandberg 3011A tuner. Interconnects are Kimber Kable Silver Streak (1 meter length).
Itâ€™s hard to review a product that isnâ€™t really there in the first place, but thatâ€™s what makes the LW-1 so nice â€“ itâ€™s transparent, clean, crisp. Iâ€™ve done a lot of research on passive preamps and two common problems with them is a lack of dynamics or bass. Bass has not been an issue with the LW-1. It doesnâ€™t have the punch that my previous Mcintosh MA6900 integrated amp had, but the bass sounds and feels natural, and itâ€™s tight and fast. On dynamics, the LW-1 presents the dynamics of the recording â€“ it does not add or take away. One recording I use to measure dynamics is Keb Moâ€™s â€œFamily Thingâ€ CD. The LW-1 presented this R&B album nicely. I was listening to Casey Chambers â€œBarricades and Brickwallsâ€ and I felt like I was at the show, live, in person. Music is fun with the LW-1. But, bad recordings can sound poor through such a revealing system.
With my return to high-end audio Iâ€™ve really become enchanted with acoustic music: bluegrass, classical, jazz piano and guitar, etc. Tony Rice and Gillian Welch are both presented truthfully through the LW-1. The emotion comes through, the handwork on the guitar comes through. Again, this music sounds alive. One album Iâ€™ve been using to judge audio components is â€œSiguiâ€ by Djelimady Tounkara. Heâ€™s from Mali and leads the Super Railway Band. His most recent effort is a solo album. He is an amazing guitarist and the recording is top notch. I demoâ€™ed the EMC-1 CD player with the album on Thor tube electronics and Alon Exotica speakers (nearly $30,000 worth of components). Boy, it sounded good! I have to say the LW-1/Alepth 30 combo meets or possibly beats that system. Itâ€™s that good. The sound of the guitar is dynamic and alive; I could pick out each pluck and I could envision the string vibrating. This music is alive with the LW-1.
Ergonomics: The LW-1 is well designed to my eye. I like itâ€™s size and layout. The source selector and volume control both feel solid. Itâ€™s a classy component. The connectors are logically located and of high quality. And no power cord! (This makes up for the power usage of the pure Class A Aleph â€“ I hope.) The size is non-standard, but itâ€™s nice to have a flexible component that could be used in a small system if desired.
Interconnects: Paul Lam of FT Audio recommends Kimber Select KS-1020 interconnects, but because of cost I opted for the less expensive Kimber Kables Silver Streak. I donâ€™t have enough experience with interconnects to comment too much in this area, but I can say the Silver Streak interconnects are slightly cleaner than the Harmonic Tech Truthlink interconnects I was previously using. I also like that the Silver Streak interconnects because they are lightweight and flexible.
Synergy: I don't think it would be fair to rate the LW-1 passive preamp so highly without giving some credit to the Pass Aleph 30 amp. This amp is very crisp and clean, many say tube-like, and it was a bargain to boot. The LW-1 also allows the Electrocompaniet EMC-1 CD player to really shine because it is so transparent. You might say the LW-1 performs the necessary functions of a preamp â€“ volume control and source switching â€“ without getting in the way of high-quality source components. For example, I knew the Tandberg tuner was good, but I didnâ€™t know how good until I heard it through the LW-1.
Comparisons: Before the LW-1/Alepth combo I had a Mcintosh MA6900 integrated amp. I thought this was a very nice component, and it is, but the LW-1/Alepth sounds warmer, cleaner, much more natural. The Mcintosh sounds more electronic in comparison (and if you compare the weight of the Mcintosh with that of the LW-1, itâ€™s like David and Goliath). In my office I have a Blue Circle CS integrated. Iâ€™m very happy with that set up too, but the CS isnâ€™t as resolving as the LW-1, and of course not as transparent.
Itâ€™s been said that passive preamps are addictive. Iâ€™m hooked! For a lot less money than expected I have a system that we, my wife and I, are very happy with. I would recommend that you try a passive preamp at some point in your audio journey. It may not be for you, and it seems to depend on system synergy, but it should be experienced at least once. I highly recommend the LW-1 as a top representation of the breed. With a 30 day trial how can you go wrong. Safe journeys space fans.

Product Weakness: None in my book.
Product Strengths: Transparency, clarity, delicacy, dynamics. Size and design. A clean path between your source and amp. Good bass for a passive preamp. This is music!

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Pass Alepth 30
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	FT Audio LW-1
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Electrocompaniet EMC-1
Speakers:	Tannoy D500
Cables/Interconnects:	Kimber Kable Silver Streak
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Bluegreass, jazz piano and guitar, classical, international, rock, electronica.
Room Size (LxWxH):	29 x 14 x 9
Room Comments/Treatments:	Furniture, rugs.
Time Period/Length of Audition:	2 weeks
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	None in my book.
Product Strengths:	Transparency, clarity, delicacy, dynamics. Size and design. A clean path between your source and amp. Good bass for a passive preamp. This is music!