“Well, I’ll just come out and say that the SPL Elector just plain floats my boat and trips my trigger in all the right ways. It’s got the connectivity (RCA, XLR) that I’ve always wanted in a preamp, and it’s pleasantly neutral in tone. In short, it easily satisfies my requirement of “doing no harm.” Add to that the generous dynamics it offers up, along with the narrow profile and killer looks, and you’ve got yourself a winner!”
At Part-Time Audiophile, you’ll find a review about our analog preamplifier SPL Elector. You can read the complete review online and a summary here on our blog.
First impression:
“One aspect of the SPL Elector is its minimal side-to-side profile: it’s only 11 inches wide. It sits nicely on the top shelf of my audio rack right beside whatever amplifier I’m running alongside it. It’s also an attractive component with a well-laid-out front panel. And it’s got backlit VU meters (always a plus in my book for cool factor points). The user gets to choose among silver, black, or red faceplates, another neat touch.”
“A big plus is flexibility of inputs, as the SPL Elector offers three sets each of single-ended RCA and balanced XLR inputs, along with an RCA tape loop.”
VOLTAiR technology:
“On the inside, the user is greeted with some really nice technology called VOLTAiR. According to SPL, this means that the output gain devices are run at 120 V DC, which is at least four times the voltage that normal devices operate under.”
“SPL goes on to imply that the technology leads to much improved dynamics and open sound due to the increased voltage headroom.”
Sound:
“In short, the SPL Elector has given me the versatility that I’ve always craved in a well-designed and implemented modern preamplifier. It’s quite simple on the outside, but it sure does seem to do a lot!”
“Perhaps the biggest complement that I can bestow upon the SPL Elector is its sonic neutrality and transparency. This is no cold sounding component, nor is it overly warm. It’s really ‘just right’ to my ears.”
Conclusion:
“I sort of figured from my first time plugging the Elector in and listening to it that it wouldn’t be going back to the distributor. After spending several months listening to it as the exclusive preamplifier in my various system configurations, I am only that much more convinced that it is a keeper. So, it’s staying right here, thank you very much!”
