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ORIGINAL: Ruphus


Many brands listed mainly produce entry- to mid-level consumer gear, especially in the named price range.

A sonic level that you will get along with until you start comparing tracks with major production ones. Usually one then gets out again, invests some more, until some time later buying somethings else ... and so on.

I like many others too went that way. Initially invested 3000 DM ( deutsche Mark back then ) and ended up with 90 000 €. One gets addicted as hearing ( of audio ) progresses.

But sometimes, though seldomly you can bypass such an od(d)ysee without even spending big amounts.
In terms of transparent peramplification that would be obtaining this very device.

To be found here http://www.davelectronics.com/bg1.htm#

This pre is of professional standard.
Yet, until a couple of years ago it used to cost around 500 bucks and I suppose that the humble man who manufactures these devices to have not changed his remarkable pricing too much.

In the audio engeneereing community the "Big No.1" gained a lot of attention, years ago.
We compared it with up to extremely expensive preamps and have been exceptionally content of what it delivers despite the little budget.
Some preferred other builds, naturally, yet within hairsplitting range of highly specialized demand and individual taste.
What remained is that the D.A.V. holds its own against top shelf competition, which means something phenomenal.

There exists little to nothing in the world of audio gear that managed such a price to quality ratio.
It is no eye candy as some Avalon or thelikes, but highly refined ingenousity in a simple box. An electronic cinderella.

Should you have a rental in your city, rent it together with other makes, keep environment and signal level paramater, make some takes and compare attentively.
You will be happily surprised.

Ruphus