That's another preamp that should be in an ARSC "bake-off" panel article in the ARSCJ! This would be
a great update to old ARSCJ articles about now-defunct devices like the OWL.
At about US$6770, Ted's Mousetrap is on the high end of pricing, below the LOC Preamp but above
other competitors mentioned so far.
Having done some equipment reviewing, I think this bakeoff is feasible, perhaps something to propose
to the new ARSCJ editor when they get up to speed. Each company would be invited to submit a unit
for review. The units would circulate among review-panel members, perhaps a month loan at a time. As
always, the reviewers would need to be responsible for proper packing and shipping, and not breaking
the units. Perhaps there would be some ARSC grant money to cover the shipping among reviewers? One
reviewer should subject the units to a series of tests against published specs and other such things
(hopefully this will be of interest to Gary Galo, because he's set up to do this sort of thing).
Using the units on actual working projects would be great, but it's also completely OK to use a set
of known discs and compare results. The panelists should make audio files to illustrate examples
they discuss in their reviews.
This would be a great service to ARSC members and the disk-transfer community in general. Take a
scientific approach, including rigorous testing, but also have first-hand accounts from
disk-transfer experts on how these things actually perform on the firing line.
-- Tom Fine
----- Original Message -----
From: "Andrew Hallifax" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, April 17, 2015 6:30 AM
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] "Best of both worlds" disk preamplifier
>I reckon Ted Kendall's Front End pre-amplifier (AKA Mousetrap) fulfils just
> about all the criteria mentioned. It's a beautifully hand-crafted 3u device
> with 2 phono inputs, balanced inputs and outputs pre-, and post-eq. It also
> incorporates Packburn-type noise reduction side chains that are easily be
> switched out of circuit. I believe a smaller, stereo version, without the
> side chains is under development.
> It's well known and used by serious archivists in the UK (EMI sound archive,
> Abbey Rd, CHARM - King's College London, British Library etc). Personally,
> I'm thoroughly convinced of its sonic neutrality, and never hesitate in
> recommending it for transfer projects I'm involved with. It's in another
> league to much of the competition as one might infer from the hefty price tag!
> More info here http://www.tedkendall.com/mousetrap.php
>
>
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