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[DavidS]

I have been demoing this little passive volume attenuator for about 3 weeks now.  It was loaned to me by Nelson (Corwin at AC) of Sonocable.com who I contacted as a result of his posts at Audio Circle.  I have heard great things about the Sono cables as well - although haven't tried any ... yet.

Now maybe I am just smitten with my first passive pre experience - but I am so impressed with this small and very affordable pre that I have ordered one from Nelson.  

My current pre is a Mapletree 2A Se which I have been mostly happy with.  Combined with either my NAD amp (214) and now a PS Audio HCA-2 amp the sound was much improved - both detail and warmth from my previous Musical Fidelity integrated.  The passive though is a red and white wine / lager and ale different - at first I thought it was somewhat lightweight and definately lacking in bass.  The more I listened though the more seductive the sound became - it wasn't less bass rather different bass - in fact better bass with more detail, a more seductive quality, more real sounding, cleaner, great at low volumes.  I am probably describing what most find with a passive in the right system but is new to me and what I was hoping for from a passive (get me closer to the source - in my case through a modded Jolida 100 cd player).  By the way I haven't experienced any of the lack of energy some have described with passives - rather the energy seems more focused and maybe understand how stereo gear can be quicker - for me again a good thing.

I have swapped back and forth a few times expecting to be re-seduced by the tube sound of my Mapletree but right away I know I want the little sonosilence back in my system.  I've let the tubes warm up for 2-3 cds but still much prefer the passive sound ( want to describe it as lean, detailed and more simple but that sounds like faint praise and if it is lean and simple how come I smile so much when I play music with it).

I would love to hear a Bent passive, or Sonic Euphoria, or even the Little Wonder before I purchase.  Nelson also has affordable competition from the Creek and CIA passives both of which I nearly bought used over on Audiogon to just try out passive in my system.  But sadly I just don't have that experience or resources to have that experience to tell you how the Sono Silence compares to a Placette passive.

But this is the cool part.  The basic Sono Silence is $175 canadian - that is like $130 US or so - amazing price.  I have Nelson customizing mine with copper wire (to match my speaker and interconnect wire), also upgraded caddock resistors, and high end rcas which drives my price up to $270 canadian!

So I haven't heard any other passives, I definately have not heard the list of much more expensive actives that I lust after such as the new modwright or bluecircle gear but Nelson's sonosilence is a great preamp piece of equipment in my system and at an amazing price.  Well worth a demo once Nelson gets it back from me or even a flyer at this great price.

Usual drill - I have no attachment to Nelson - other than his demo passive volume control which looks quite at home sitting in my living room.  Recommended if you are like me and into exploring what passives can do in your system.

David Speed

[Red Dragon Audio]

I have to say Nelson is a great guy and does build top notch products.  However I do have some affiliation with Nelson so take my opinion with the usual large grain of salt.

Nelson is about customer service and really does provide wonderful products.

[DavidS]

This is written as a follow-up to the demo sono silence passive preamp I have had in my system since February.  I liked the demo version so much that I had Nelson build me one for my system.

Now a warning right up front that this is real minimalist stuff.  Can definately see how this pre is not for everyone - in fact I was surpised to find Nelson doesn't use it in his system preferring a more full function pre to run all his gear.  Not the most practical preamp with only two rcas for sources and a single out.  No remote control either.  So my tuner sits as I prefer to have my cheap dvd player plugged into the second rca and my powered subwoofer just a piece of living room furniture while I wonder how much I miss the sub's boom.

I admit I am attracted by minimalism.  The simple is best mantra appeals to me.  Of late I have been thinking about ditching my whole system and going over the cliff to high efficiency speaker and lower power amp system...and this preamp would fit just fine.  And no doubt there is an upside.

What you trade in convenience with this preamp you get back in sound.  As noted above I had a Mapletree tube linestage in my system prior to the Sono Silence.  It was somewhat minimalist itself - but enjoyed the tube sound.  Ordering from Nelson gives you the advantage of tweaking the preamp to match your system.  I made the following changes to the stock Sono Silence (can't help tweaking):

1.  put in high end gold rcas - was about a $70 premium but I think worth it
2.  wired with copper vs. silver.  All of my interconnects, speaker wire, and wiring in my speaker is copper... so was good to keep the same
3.  caddock resistors - replaced Audio Note resistors in demo version.  Nelson recommended.  I have to say I have huge bias to Audio Note gear.  Love everything I have heard but very pricey and if Caddock is better than Audio Note well.....

Sidebar:  Nelson lives in Nanaimo which is a City of about 60,000 people about 2 hours to the north of me.  When my passive was ready I made the big trip after work on a Wednesday night up to Nelson's to pick the preamp up.  Like many specialist audio businesses Nelson operates his business from home as he has time after his regular job.  He is a young guy who clearly loves gear.  For me it was like audio disney land as in my two hour visit we never spent more than 10 minutes with any piece but were constantly swapping in new both commercial gear (like his new speakers Gershman x-1's) but also mad scientist pieces Nelson was playing with or had somehow acquired from other audio artists.  

I have had my preamp at home for about 2 weeks.  It has 40-50 hours on it.  We think the caddocks are / were slow to break in as sound really did not get magical sparkle that I had with demo preamp until about 40 hours.  But wow after it opened up.  Again I am coming off a warmish tube preamp but for me the sound I am getting is:

very clear clean with lots of details and sparkling dynamics
tight tight bass - I now know what tight bass means, but miss some of the boom especially with movies
great listening at low volume levels but also none of the lack of dynamics I thought I might get from a passive

it sounds great with jazz and folk - guitars being strummed never sounded this real in my system.  But ditto for loud guitar crunch of Jack White (White Stripes) or Howe Gelb (Giant Sand).  Female voices are wonderful too - one of my favourites is Beady Belle - kind of modern dance jazz group from Sweden I think ... pure silk is her voice.  In fact only down is my speakers can be pretty revealing too (Ellis Audios) and bad sounding cds tend to sound worse - more harsh.  Just the facts sir.

I think the caddocks will continue to evolve.  My system sounds 25% better with this preamp in (and I really liked the Mapletree and I know 25% is pretty subjective but I think it is synergy and how the passive lets everything else do its thing).  Just need more listening time.

Don't want to overthink this ... but this has me thinking about where I go next.  I love the gear but also love this sound.  Grass might just be greener but have been eyeballing those Cain and Cain speakers (sorry Dave Ellis not sure if this qualifies as being unfaithful)...now maybe with an op amp or tripath with the passive and a really high end seperate source.  Hmmmm - stay tuned.

If you want to check out Sono Silence or any other Nelson products the website:

http://www.sonocable.com/

David