Preamplifiers — Octave Audio Jubilee Preamp SE

The Jubilee Preamp SE is an upgraded edition of Octave Audio's standard Jubilee Preamp, a tube preamplifier in the German company's Jubilee range. The SE splits the design into two chassis, with the power supply moved into its own outboard unit.

Key specs that matter

Inputs comprise two on XLR and five on RCA, one RCA input fewer than on the standard Jubilee Preamp, and there are two outputs of each type. Gain stays at 10dB via RCA and 16dB via XLR, as on the standard model, and the frequency response is the same 3Hz to 100,000Hz within plus or minus 3dB. The unweighted signal-to-noise ratio rises to 100dB, 10dB better than the standard version, while total harmonic distortion plus noise remains 0.1%. The preamplifier chassis measures 445 x 152 x 480mm and weighs 17.2kg, and the power supply unit measures 220 x 152 x 480mm and weighs 11.5kg.

Engineering and use context

The outboard supply physically isolates the sensitive gain circuitry from mains noise and transformer hum. Separating power supply from signal circuitry, as far apart as practical, is an approach many high-end preamplifiers use. The tube gain stages, gain figures and bandwidth are carried over from the single-chassis model.

Pairing

Its two sets of outputs let the Jubilee Preamp SE drive two power amplifiers simultaneously, for example one per driver section of a bi-amped speaker. Within Octave's catalogue, the Jubilee 300 B and Jubilee Mono Ultimate are the mono power amplifiers of the same Jubilee family.

Alternatives

Octave's standard Jubilee Preamp costs less and has a built-in power supply, with the same gain and frequency response.