Audio Research LS 28SE Line-Stage Preamplifier | Black

The Audio Research LS28SE is a high-performance, tube-based line-stage preamplifier that offers a combination of flexibility, intuitive operation, and advanced features. It is designed to deliver superior audio quality while offering extensive connectivity and user-friendly controls.

Key Features and Connectivity:

• Inputs and Outputs:

  • The LS28SE provides four balanced (XLR) inputs and four single-ended (RCA) inputs, offering broad compatibility with various audio sources.
  • It also includes two sets of both balanced (XLR) and single-ended (RCA) outputs, allowing for connection to a wide range of power amplifiers or other devices, ensuring that the preamp can be used in a variety of setups.

• Menu System:

  • The LS28SE’s menu system is designed to be straightforward and intuitive, allowing users to easily adjust a variety of parameters such as:
    • Input naming, so you can assign custom names to your sources for easier identification.
    • Tube hours, providing a way to track the lifespan of the vacuum tubes used in the circuit, which helps in maintaining optimal performance.
    • Auto shutdown, a convenient feature for energy-saving, automatically turning off the preamp after a set period of inactivity.
    • Home theater passthrough, which allows the LS28SE to be integrated into a home theater system while bypassing the preamp’s volume control and providing transparent signal passthrough.

  Additional functions include phase inversion (for correcting phase issues) and mono mode (for mono listening).

Circuit and Design:

• Vacuum Tubes: The LS28SE uses four 6H30 vacuum tubes in its analog circuitry, which are known for their low noise, high gain, and excellent linearity. These tubes are carefully selected to enhance the preamp's performance, contributing to its smooth, musical sound signature.

• Compatibility: Although it is an ideal match for Audio Research’s own amplifiers, the LS28SE is engineered to work with nearly any amplifier on the market. This flexibility ensures it can fit into a wide range of audio systems, from high-end setups to more mainstream configurations.

Sound Quality and Enhancements:

• The LS28SE incorporates a number of design improvements and component upgrades, largely influenced by the development of Audio Research’s Reference 160-series amplifiers. These improvements are intended to elevate the overall sonic performance of the preamp.

  • Proprietary Gold Coupling Capacitors: The LS28SE benefits from the same high-quality gold coupling capacitors used in the Reference 6SE preamplifier. These capacitors contribute to a more refined and transparent sound, improving clarity, resolution, and overall tonal balance.

  • Component Upgrades: The LS28SE features numerous high-grade components, including special wire and parts changes that improve its overall performance, similar to those used in the Reference 6SE and Reference Phono 3SE. These upgrades are designed to reduce signal distortion and enhance the overall soundstage.

Performance:

The result of these design refinements is a preamplifier that offers improved clarity, better resolution, and increased transient response compared to previous models. The sound is described as having a relaxed purity, meaning it maintains a natural and effortless quality even during extended listening sessions. The improvements to spatial depth and sense of space are also noticeable, offering a more immersive listening experience.

The LS28SE is designed to provide a highly transparent signal path, allowing it to reveal more detail in the music, with a wide dynamic range and crisp transient snap, yet without any harshness or fatigue, making it suitable for long listening periods.

Overall Conclusion:

The Audio Research LS28SE represents a significant step forward in tube preamplifier design. Its flexibility, advanced features, and careful selection of high-quality components ensure it delivers superior sound quality and versatility. Whether used in a high-end two-channel system or integrated into a home theater setup, it offers a refined and natural sonic signature, making it ideal for audiophiles looking for a preamplifier that delivers both high performance and ease of use.

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