Предусилители — CH Precision L10

Swiss firm CH Precision sells the L10 as its reference line preamplifier, a two-box design that houses the audio stages apart from their power supply. The company presents it as a comprehensive redesign of its L1 line preamplifier, with every element reassessed, and it starts life as a stereo unit that can later grow into a dual monaural system by adding a second L10.

Key specs that matter

Per channel there are four balanced XLR inputs, two single-ended RCA inputs and two single-ended BNC inputs, feeding two balanced XLR outputs, one RCA output and one BNC output. Balanced inputs present 94k ohm or 600 ohm, and single-ended inputs 47k ohm or 300 ohm. Maximum input level is 16 V balanced or 8 V single-ended, while the outputs reach 20 V balanced or 10 V single-ended. Bandwidth runs from DC to beyond 1 MHz at minus 3 dB, measured at 0 dB volume with a 0 dBu input. THD+N stays under 0.0008 percent from 22 Hz to 22 kHz, A-weighted, while signal-to-noise tops 141 dB over 20 Hz to 20 kHz, also A-weighted. At maximum gain the noise floor is below 1.8 microvolts on the balanced output and below 1.3 microvolts single-ended, and the volume range spans minus 99.5 dB to +18 dB.

Engineering and use context

CH Precision uses fully discrete, balanced circuits, with very short signal paths. Volume is set by a current-domain R-2R ladder network in 0.5 dB steps, followed by dedicated I/V conversion stages. The separate supply uses dual transformers and 700,000 microfarads of energy storage, with complete galvanic isolation between all stages. Software lets the owner choose the feedback topology, compensate for DC offset between connected components and configure multi-chassis operation. Each enclosure measures 440 x 440 x 133 mm, and the power supply chassis weighs 23 kg. The unit accepts 100, 115 or 230 V mains at 47 to 63 Hz and draws under 0.5 W on standby and 90 W in normal use. An 800 x 480 AMOLED display with 24-bit colour sits on the front, and control comes from a dual concentric encoder with push function or a 5-button interface, an infrared remote or the CH Control App for iOS and Android. The app also covers input selection, volume, mute, configuration settings and browsing of music on UPnP network devices. Firmware can be updated from a USB drive or over the internet.

Pairing

CH Precision offers the chassis in silver as standard, with anthracite and champagne as options.

Alternatives

The CH Precision L1 is the line preamplifier from the company's 1 Series that preceded the L10.