...in that winecellar.
Nick Whetstone of TNT,(one of the earliest webzines), has just posted a review of the EZ Linestage.
Read it here
Shop for it here

Ultimate VC:

Quite a few have come through and listened and 100% unanimous: Ultimate VC = good sound!

I would characterize this as a very smooth, effortless sound, with no holding back.

On the Bench
our test equipment is 24bit/192khz. The Ultimate VC pushes our measurement abilities to the limit (JFET output into 10k load):
non-inverting phase
20hz - 80khz at -0.5db
THD: 0.007%
Dynamic range: 100.7 db
IMD + noise: 0.0076%

Our next step is to install the UTS in the same chassis together with the Ultimate VC

It sees everyone is ordering these with pre-drilled faceplates. I should have these in hand in 10 days.

UTS Phono stage:

Now.

Check this out:
at the front we have the controls and the power supply. All the digital bits flow across those ribbons to selector (left), volume (right) and the audio signal board (chassis back).

The audio signal board uses end-to-end analogue potentiometers to adjust volume and vacuum silver relays to select source. The great thing is the audio signal board can be mounted beside the I/O jacks and the power supply can be put far away. This minimizes noise and maximizes musical fidelity.

Quiet it is. Next week I'll report some measurements.

So with no tubes or coils of copper to justify it's existence, why do we have it? Don't we already have passives and TVC?
Putting aside the convenience of remote control:

•  passives are beguiling but limited since they need to be used with short short cables and are extremely load sensitive. That is why they often come off sounding detailed but thin and dynamics constrained
• TVCs, IMO, still give the ultimate sound IF source and load impedances are friendly to each other. If we use a TVC we really need to build the system around it. A good TVC with switches and parts of worthy quality costs upwards of 1K$
 read more »
• brian's blog

The Control Board is the long one shown; front and back. The short board is the audio board in the previous post.

We refer to the Control Board as the Control Matrix because it is actually 3 modules -- Volume, Selector, Logic/PSU -- which can be snapped off and positioned to suit any size faceplate (the Volume and Selector modules communicate with the Logic Module through ribbon connectors). Or it can be mounted as one unit to a suitably sized faceplate. The 240mm Projekt chassis happens to be one that is.

This board handles the audio signal and is fully DC coupled in/out and, since it's functions are self contained, can be positioned optimally close to signal I/O . There are:

• 5 INPUTS
• REC. can also be used as a direct in (ie single source). More about this later.
• DIRECT OUT which has an output impedance of 25Kohms
• JFET OUT which uses the optional JFET (LSK389-A) devices as shown installed and has an output impedance of 50 ohms

To use as a volume control in your amp or preamp just route all signal to the audio board and use the direct out connector block. EZ drop in to replace your existing attenuator.

Ergo will serve as our universal amplifier chassis. The Ella, LD Stereo, Joplin, and Lux can all be built on this chassis.

Features:

Mechanical Ergonomics

* Around: Bamboo Wood front and side panels. This wood is very hard, resistant to moisture and has a great tactile quality. It's natural resonance has a musical tone. Bamboo wood is renewable and typically harvested every 4 years. Back panel is aluminum and (left to right) has IEC connector, provision for both RCA and XLR inputs, 4 speaker binding posts

* Left: 3 Power transformers (1 main and 2 filament) are mounted on the left and lineup with the IEC input. Terminal blocks are provided for easy voltage configuration, both input and output. There is also space provided to mount 2 of the FCUPS and filament supplies.

Been looking for this for quite some time: a high quality small diameter shielded cable that ISN'T swaddled in acoustically toxic PVC.

There's lots to choose from if we don't mind FAT cable, but when trying to make the bends in limited space and there are several runs from input to selector -- well it get's difficult to manage.

This cable has a teflon cover over silvered copper braid and 2 signal wires, also teflon served and silvered copper. Only 2mm total diameter and even though it is teflon, easy to manage. We will be supplying this standard on our phono pre.

Sound is smooth and detailed with no edginess.

Only 2mm OD.

Application Examples:

1. 2-channel buffered passive preamplifier of highest quality with remote
1 X Control Module
1 X Audio Module
2 X LSK389

2. Upgrade any 2-channel preamplifier or integrated amplifier with remote control
1 X Control Module
1 X Audio Module

3. 2-channel tube preamplifier of highest quality with remote
1 X Control Module
1 X Audio Module
1 X Universal Tube Stage (UTS) Module

4. 2-channel balanced tube preamplifier of highest quality with remote
1 X Control Module
2 X Audio Module
2 X UTS Module

5. 5.1-channel tube preamplifier of highest quality with remote
1 X Control Module
3 X Audio Module
3 X UTS Module

Specifications:
Audio Module
Passive operation standard mode

Maximum input/output level: 3.5v rms
Input impedance: Fixed 100kOhm
Adjustment range: -52dB to 0dB in 127 steps
Output impedance: < 25kOhm

Audio module
Passive operation 51k shunt mode (option)

Maximum output level: 3.5V RMS (note, input level is not limited in shunt mode)
Input impedance: > 51kohm
Adjustment range: -46dB to -3dB in 127 steps
Output impedance: < 33kOhm

Audio module
Passive operation 100k shunt mode (option)

Maximum output level: 3.5V RMS (note, input level is not limited in shunt mode)
Input impedance: > 100kOhm
Adjustment range: -52dB to -6dB in 127 steps
Output impedance: < 50kOhm

Audio module
Passive operation all modes