Mini Passive Preamp II

Name: Mini Passive Preamp II
Brand: Tisbury Audio
SKU: TA-03
Price: 179.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

£179.00 GBP

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Handcrafted in the UK

This high-quality passive preamplifier serves as a sonically transparent control hub for any audio system. It allows you to adjust volume, switch between sources, connect multiple amps, control active speakers, and add outputs for subwoofers, headphone amps, or other devices.

Precision Stepped Attenuator: The Mini uses a stepped-attenuator volume control with high quality thin-film SMD resistors, delivering superior sound quality and much more accurate channel balance compared to traditional potentiometers.

Versatile Outputs: Output 1 is controlled by the volume. Output 2 can be set to "Variable" (volume controlled), "Loop" (always full volume), or "Off."

Selectable Fixed Attenuation: Choose from 0 dB, -10 dB or -20 dB attenuation applied before the volume control to help reduce excessive gain.

Handcrafted in England: Our products are designed, manufactured, and rigorously tested in our workshop to deliver authentic British Hi-Fi.

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Media reviews

HiFi Pig: "So transparent is the Tisbury that it has very little influence that I can detect in my system." - hifipig.com

HiFiZine: "For modest or minimalist systems, the Mini Passive is a no–brainer; versatile, compact, low cost and aurally unobtrusive." - hifizine.com

Wall of Sound: "Priced very reasonably. It can enhance the experience or usability of most any system. Give it a try!" - wallofsound.ca

Frequently asked questions

What is a passive preamp?
The Mini Passive Preamp is essentially a high quality volume control and input selector in a box. It has no power supply or active components inside, resulting in the most transparent sound quality possible for a fraction of the price of its active counterparts.

Why should I use one?
Most modern sources have more than enough output voltage to drive an amplifier directly, and pairing with an active preamp can often result in too much gain, high noise and loss of sound quality. In this situation, a passive can offer the most elegant solution.

Is my system compatible?
As a passive preamp has no gain, your source must have sufficient output voltage to drive your amp to full power (known as the 'input sensitivity'). Digital sources (CD player, DAC etc.) will almost always work perfectly. Vinyl gear comes in a much wider variety, so it gets its own answer below.

I have a turntable. Will my system work?
You'll need a seperate phono stage to use a turntable with the Mini preamp. If you don't have one yet, we recommend the Domino, as it comes with adjustable gain which will make compatibility a lot easier. If you already have a phono stage, we can check compatibility for you. Just send us a message and let us know the make and model of your cartridge, phono stage, and amp.

Does it matter what cables I use?
With some passive preamps yes, but not with ours. You can safely use most cables up to 5 meters in length without any problems.

Do I need to worry about impedances?
Again, this is necessary with many passives, but not ours. The Mini preamp can comfortably drive multiple amps at the same time without worrying about impedances.

What type of attenuators do you use?
Our SMD stepped attenuators use a 'series' configuration, meaning they use a track of resistors connected in series and the volume is varied by moving the output up and down the track. This mimics a standard potentiometer and is ideal for audio. They have low output impedance, extremely high sound quality, low operation noise and a satisfying clicky feeling.

Want to learn more about passive preamps?
Read our blog post here where we go into more depth, including why our preamp doesn't suffer from the same issues that other passives do.

Technical specifications

Construction: solid American black walnut front and anodised aluminium body, laser engraved markings.

Volume control: stepped attenuator, 1% tolerance thin film SMD resistors, ±0.25 dB channel balance at all levels, gold plated contacts, 2-3 dB per step.

Size W x D x H: 10.5cm x 15cm x 6cm / 4.1" x 5.9" x 2.4"

Connections: 3 x RCA inputs, 2 x RCA outputs

Input impedance: 10 kOhms

Output impedance: 0 Ohms (at full volume)

Fixed Attenuation Settings: 0 dB, -10 dB, -20 dB. Set by switches on base

Output 1: variable - level set by volume control

Output 2: Variable or Loop modes, set by bottom switches

Output 2 - Variable: level set by volume control along with Output 1. Provides a second main output for connecting another amplifier, active subwoofer etc.

Output 2 - Loop: sometimes called a 'tape out'. Bypasses the volume control. Use this to output full volume to a headphone amp or other device that has its own volume control

User manual

Mini Passive Preamp User Manual [PDF]

Customer Reviews

Reviews with images

Crook

I've owned this unit for a number of years now and it is exceptionally well made. Obviously passive with no gain. I use it as a volume control and to switch between my TT and digital (Wiim / DAC) chains, with variable output to power amp and fixed to headphone amp. The thing about this is that is doesn't have a sound, in the chain or not, the music sounds exactly the same to my ears. It adds nothing and takes nothing away. So, if you need to switch between multiple sources, or need a volume control for a power amplifier, I can't think of anything better to use for the price. Plus, it's designed and built in the UK and it's good to support local small companies imo. Recommended 100% and super versatile.

Shop owner replied

Alex L.

You can't miss it. Must buy!

Shop owner replied

gilgermesh

I needed something to take the gain down on my valve monoblocks. I am very very impressed with this magic little unit.

Shop owner replied

Morwenna

I do not tend to gush about hi fi - most of it is shockingly overpriced - governed by the sadly accepted 'rule' of diminishing returns (you get to pay huge amounts for a small percentage improvement as you go down the sonic rabbit hole). This simple little device has been in my possession for several years now. I have periodically tried very expensive powered pre-amps to partner a very hi-end power amp I picked up 2nd hand a while back. In the context of my system then, the Tisbury passive pre is - hands down - the most neutral, engaging and musical (pace, rhythm, timing and tonal qualities of the source conveyed as transparently as possible) pieces of kit I have ever come across. The sources used are a very hi end phono stage and turntable/cartridge and various DAC's and computers/streamers/tv streams etc.. To be absolutely honest this little switching/attenuation box makes every other pre amp I've tried (up to several grands worth!) sound like a veil over the music or a musically coloured and forced sounding 'overkill'. I have not tried another passive pre and will at some point just to see - but the Tisbury would grace any system that does not need any boosted signal other than the output of the source. It has a second set of outputs that can be switched to a fixed output (multiple uses) or remain variable (linked to volume pot) - very useful for the low level inputs on many subs. Not having yet another part of the signal chain plugged into the mains also has many potential sonic benefits - this thing just sits between source and amp/powered monitors In closing I should mention that the Tisbury manages to get that signal to the power amp over some 5 metres or so of RCA interconnect without any loss of dynamic or life in the music. Not sure how it does this as a passive device but vaguely remember reading something that the designer said which explains it. Anyway it is a truly 'giant killing' pre amp and if you have a good power amp with adequate input impedance to not require any further boost to an ordinary source signal (any cd/dac/phono stage) or a decent pair of powered monitors (I use AE 1's in a different system - superb value) then you would do yourself a favour to try this out. Do not be fooled by it's simple appearance - the Tisbury passive pre is that very rare thing - a triumph of good, elegant British engineering in the here and now.

Shop owner replied

Mini Passive Preamp II