AudioCircle
Industry Circles => Tortuga Audio => Topic started by: tortugaranger on 5 Sep 2013, 09:52 pm
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In terms of where Tortuga Audio is headed next by way of major product development, our primary near term focus is on finishing development of our balanced passive preamp for release in the Q4 2013. We are calling this preamp the LDR3B.
The twin beating hearts of the LDR3B will be a pair of LDR3x boards in a Master/Slave configuration. We are currently separately marketing the LDR3x board to the DIY community. Demand has been surprisingly high and initial user reports have been very very positive.
One aspect of the design which is now essentially final is the input/output configuration. The "3" in the LDR3B means there will be both 3 inputs along with 3 outputs. An earlier rear panel layout is shown below. Since this graphic was made, we've shifted the all the panel holes so they line up vertically with each other rather than offset as shown. And although shown in gray, all metal will be brushed black anodized with laser etched light lettering.
(http://tortugaaudio2.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/images/ldr3b_rear_panel.jpg)
2 of the 3 inputs will be balanced and 1 will be single ended. We've had several customers ask for the option of being able to accommodate at least one single ended (RCA) input as well as one single ended output (for subwoofer). Internally, the one unbalanced input is converted to a balanced signal via transformer. This way all 3 inputs will be attenuated identically regardless of which input/type is currently selected.
The selected input, regardless of type, will be available on all 3 outputs; 2 balanced and 1 single ended. The balanced output will be run through a transformer to convert it down to an unbalanced single ended output.
Below is the latest overview of the LDR3B enclosure. It's grown in width from earlier prototypes. Current nominal dimensions are 8.5" wide, 8" deep by 3" high. This will be the new "look" of all our products going forward. All metal panels will be brushed black anodized aluminum and the sides will be carbonized 3 layer bamboo. Trying to think outside the black metal box just a bit. We plan on retaining our signature Fender Telecaster knurled knob. The LDR3B will also have a visual display module.
(http://tortugaaudio2.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/images/ldr3b_prototype_enclosure_front3.jpg)
Pricing has not been finalized.
Questions and suggestions always welcome.
Cheers,
Morten
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suggestions always welcome.
Cheers,
Morten
Go to RMAF 2013. :wink:
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I for one can hardly wait.
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I have to ask. Just when will this be available for sale?
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I have to ask. Just when will this be available for sale?
We're making some changes in terms of hiring on additional help to accelerate this but realistically December - before year's end. Two out of town weddings in October isn't helping (neither are mine!). As soon as we have a final prototype built with all the bells and whistles (i.e. the enclosure), we'll release some photographs and summary specs and start accepting pre-orders.
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Hi Morten:
Three questions... :D
Are you going to utilize an external relay/input board to expand to both 3 inputs along with 3 outputs?
When ready will you make this relay board available to the DIY community that purchased your LDR3x boards?
and finally, I am a bit confused on the below comment. Does this mean that the balanced output will not run fully balanced?
The selected input, regardless of type, will be available on all 3 outputs; 2 balanced and 1 single ended. The balanced output will be run through a transformer to convert it down to an unbalanced single ended output.
Regards,
Randy
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We're making some changes in terms of hiring on additional help to accelerate this but realistically December - before year's end. Two out of town weddings in October isn't helping (neither are mine!). As soon as we have a final prototype built with all the bells and whistles (i.e. the enclosure), we'll release some photographs and summary specs and start accepting pre-orders.
Thanks, Morten.
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Are you going to utilize an external relay/input board to expand to both 3 inputs along with 3 outputs?
Does this mean that the balanced output will not run fully balanced?
The LDR3B will utilize input switching via LDRs to select from 3 inputs. 2 of those inputs will be XLR/Balanced and 1 will be RCA/unbalanced. The switching will be via LDRs in lieu of electromechanical relays. This is the same approach we currently use with our LDR1/LDR6 finished preamps. When the unbalanced input is selected it will be upverted (my new word!) to a balanced signal via stereo transformers before being attenuated. The attenuated balanced output will go to 2 XLR/balanced outputs in parallel. The output will also be downverted (my other new word!) via a second set of stereo transformers to an unbalanced signal for the single RCA/unbalanced output.
The addition of the unbalanced input/output to the LDR3B adds a fair amount additional cost but numerous prospective customers have asked for this feature. We may eventually offer a lower cost variation - lets call it the LDR2B for now - which excludes the unbalanced input/output. We may also offer an upgraded version of the LDR3B which utilizes better audiophile grade signal conversion transformers.
When ready will you make this relay board available to the DIY community that purchased your LDR3x boards?
The general answer is yes but the timing hasn't been nailed down. The near term focus is on the release of the LDR3B. LDR3x relay boards to follow.
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Any chance there will be option of three XLR in and one or two XLR out? Don't need the unbalanced at all an thus no need for the expensive transformers. Thanks.
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Any chance there will be option of three XLR in and one or two XLR out? Don't need the unbalanced at all an thus no need for the expensive transformers. Thanks.
The simple answer is Yes. The 2 XLR + 1 RCA in and 1 XLR + 1 RCA out was requested by several people which is why we'll be offering that arrangement but we'll also offer a straight XLR in/out at a commensurate lower price. And thanks for asking.
Cheers,
Morten
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We just published a status update on the LDR3B Balanced Passive Preamp. Getting closer to launch!!
You can find out more via this link: http://www.tortugaaudio.com/ldr3b-balanced-passive-preamp-update/ (http://www.tortugaaudio.com/ldr3b-balanced-passive-preamp-update/)
(http://www.tortugaaudio.com/images/ldr3b_enclosure_frontandrear.jpg)(http://www.tortugaaudio.com/images/ldr4b_enclosure_sideview.jpg)
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Very nice ! Bring it on :D
edit:
+1 for a cheaper version with fewer inputs
1 XLR + 1 RCA or
1 XLR or
2 XLR
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I do not want to diverge from the balance unit development, but is Tortuga audio planning to add display units in future updates on the regular unbalance line stages?
Paul
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+1 for a cheaper version with fewer inputs
That's a possibility we'll consider after the LDR3B is launched. It's easier to leave things out than to add things in once a design has been set.
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....... is Tortuga audio planning to add display units in future updates on the regular unbalance line stages?
The simple answer is yes. Timing of that is sketchy at the moment but yes.
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What's the current ETA?
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What's the current ETA?
Ah yes, when indeed. Everything was on track for a Mid-March release but i had to bugger that up by going forward with the LDR3x.V2 preamp controller board which is now the critical path item. The V2 is now 2-3 weeks from being finished and there will undoubtedly be some initial glitches (software) to iron out so I'm now thinking by the end of April we should be good to go.
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Ah yes, when indeed. Everything was on track for a Mid-March release but i had to bugger that up by going forward with the LDR3x.V2 preamp controller board which is now the critical path item. The V2 is now 2-3 weeks from being finished and there will undoubtedly be some initial glitches (software) to iron out so I'm now thinking by the end of April we should be good to go.
The end of April? Of what year? :)
Just kidding. It's all good, except for the waiting part.
Randy
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The end of April? Of what year? :)
Yeah, I had that one coming. :roll:
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End of June?
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End of June?
It's now on the front and center on the big burner. Coming soon. June's a stretch but July is absolute. Will be announcing/posting pre-order period soon.
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Starting a new topic to cover our new LDRx (unbalanced) and LDRxB (balanced) Passive Preamps. Prior posts from LDR3B will be merged here. The LDR3B is now the LDRxB going forward.
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As of 7.1.14 we are announcing the upcoming release of our new line of finished LDRx & LDRxB Passive Preamp products. As things stand now, the official release date is July 31, 2014. Despite the epic delay is getting product ready, this is the real deal. It's really going to happen. Soon. No, really! :green:
When released, the LDRx will replace our existing LDR3 and LDR6 offerings and can be ordered with 3-6 inputs. The LDRxB is our first balanced passive preamp with a blend of 3 balanced plus 1 alternative unbalanced input, 2 balanced outputs plus also an unbalanced output. Both versions will be housed in our new attractive enclosure design and utilize our latest LDR3x.V2 preamp controller board featuring auto-calibration.
As of today, we are accepting pre-orders. LDRx & LDRxB product posting with the details can be found on our website: http://www.tortugaaudio.com/product/ldrx-ldrxb-passive-preamps/ (http://www.tortugaaudio.com/product/ldrx-ldrxb-passive-preamps/)
Here is our latest CAD renderings. Actual pics to follow when they're available.
Cheers,
Morten :thumb:
(http://www.tortugaaudio.com/images/ldr3b_front_2.jpg)
(http://www.tortugaaudio.com/images/ldr3b_front_1.jpg)
(http://www.tortugaaudio.com/images/ldr3b_side_left.jpg)
(http://www.tortugaaudio.com/images/ldr3b_rear_XLR.jpg)
(http://www.tortugaaudio.com/images/ldr3b_rear_RCA.jpg)
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We sent a notice out around 10 days ago to everyone with pre-orders that the release date for the LDRx/LDRxB has been pushed out to mid-August. Everything is done and ready except for fabrication of the enclosures which is well underway. We are doing the enclosure fab work in-house except for the anodizing. Milling the parts and the turnaround on the anodizing is the key reason for the pushing out the release date.
The 10% pre-order discount is still available until the release date. More info here: http://www.tortugaaudio.com/product/ldrx-ldrxb-passive-preamps/ (http://www.tortugaaudio.com/product/ldrx-ldrxb-passive-preamps/)
The pic below is a set of front panels fresh off the CNC mill before brushing/anodizing. Note the milled out center stripe is for the dark acrylic inlay which will cover up the "window".
Here is a link to a youtube video showing one of these front panels being milled on our CNC machine. We removed the dust/vacuum cover so the cutting would be visible for the video which is why there are cuttings everywhere. http://youtu.be/-Q9WLLeFIuE (http://youtu.be/-Q9WLLeFIuE)
(http://www.tortugaaudio.com/images/frontpanels_rawmilled.jpg)
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Is it better to shield the LDR boards with a metal enclosure? I am using them open-air and no problem so far with EMI/RFI. Today a friend is coming for listening..
-R
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Is it better to shield the LDR boards with a metal enclosure? I am using them open-air and no problem so far with EMI/RFI. Today a friend is coming for listening..
-R
Old school says enclose in a metal box (Faraday Cage http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faraday_cage (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faraday_cage)) but frankly I don't see the need unless you're in an environment with unusually high EMI/RFI. Our development boards are surrounded by noisy equipment including a moveable fluorescent light with magnifying glass that is rarely less than 12-24 inches away from a bare board. I have to put this fluorescent light almost right on top of a V1/V2 board in order to induce noise in the audio. Customers have provided project photos showing enclosures made of wood, stone, corian, plastic and yes even metal.
Being actively controlled passive attenuators with optical isolation between control power and audio signals, our preamps aren't as sensitive to power supply noise as true active preamps but to the extent your power is noisy and becomes an issue I'd recommend using EMI filtering on the AC mains. We're doing this on our new LDRx/LDRxB products but historically I've not observed a problem with EMI nor have I heard from any customers who have.
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Any chance the chassis will be available to us DIY folks who always struggle to make our projects look good.
JP
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Any chance the chassis will be available to us DIY folks who always struggle to make our projects look good.
JP
I'm open to possibly offering a DIY enclosure but I suspect the price point may not prove very attractive relative to other options there such as FrontPanelExpress (http://www.frontpanelexpress.com/). Although when you add up all the panels for a complete enclosure the cost with FrontPanel starts to add up as well. You can source decent enclosures on eBay for around $40-75 depending on size etc. One of our enclosures like the new LDRx would likely run upwards of $300 or more although that's just a very rough guestimate since we haven't priced it out for DIY.
We chose to make the investment in being able to fabricate our own enclosures because we wanted: a) a distinctive high quality look, b) ability to quickly make changes & offer customized options, c) to keep marginal costs down, and very importantly d) we were not prepared to manage the quality control necessary for lowest cost fabrication in China.
For the immediate future it's somewhat moot since we have our hands full getting our enclosure fab operation up to speed for our own finished products. Perhaps down the road a few months we can revisit offering premium enclosures.
We may also offer a complete DIY LDR passive preamp kit sometime down the road but this would likely utilize a variation on the enclosure we used for our LDR1/3/6 which used an extruded unibody aluminum box with custom front/rear panels.
As always, we want to be responsive to the market so anyone reading this who has a want/need/wish along these lines don't hesitate to speak up.
Cheers,
Morten
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This isn't a very good photo but it shows the 3/8" thick x 3.25" high x 12.5" wide raw front panel with the dark acrylic inlay/lens plus the enameled knurled Telecaster knob after the initial fit-up around a week ago. The panel still hadn't been brushed or anodized. When it's anodized it will be black-knob on black-inset on black-panel. The dual blue displays will only be visible when they're on otherwise they'll disappear. A very cool look! :thumb:
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=103500)
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That will be sharp!
I was toying with the idea of building on your V board but I'm happy to buy a built unit seeing how your design looks and it coming to life. Nice! I think the blue display through that dark/smoked acrylic will be cool.
What will be the dimensions now that you have some faces fabricated and some lots built? I think you have answered this previously but I thought I'd ask again now that you have some lots built.
Thanks for taking the time to share the photos!
Andy
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What will be the dimensions now that you have some faces fabricated and some lots built?
Nominally 12.5" wide, 3.25" tall (plus feet so figure 4" overall), 10" deep (plus with knob and jacks figure 11.5" overall).
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Excellent! That should poke right in the spot I have reserved for it.
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Just a quick note letting everyone know that we are pushing out the release date for the LDRx/LDRxB Passive Preamps until the end of August. Much of our time the past several weeks has been spent on commissioning our in-house enclosure fabrication equipment which among other items includes a CNC router (foreground) and a stroke sander (background) as shown in the pic below. That commissioning work is now essentially done and we can now focus on production work going forward. Some have suggested we simply shop all this out to China at half the cost and skip all the headaches of making things ourselves. I confess there have been moments when this sounded very seductive. But offshore production of relatively low volume product has its own challenges. I'm of the view that you can indeed produce high quality distinctive products cost effectively - domestically. Onwards! :thumb:
P.S. Of course this extends the 10% pre-order discount period out until the end of August as well. http://www.tortugaaudio.com/product/ldrx-ldrxb-passive-preamps/ (http://www.tortugaaudio.com/product/ldrx-ldrxb-passive-preamps/)
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=103736)
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As a paid customer waiting for mine to be built... I don't mind. I support "Made in USA" in full
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As a paid customer waiting for mine to be built... I don't mind. I support "Made in USA" in full
Thanks bonsai! :thumb: Soon mon, soon!
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The chips are flying and our first run of aluminum enclosure parts head off to the anodizer later this week. That means we're on track to release by the end of August. Yes, it's really going to happen. :green:
You have between now and the end of the month to take advantage of the 10% pre-order discount. More info here: http://www.tortugaaudio.com/product/ldrx-ldrxb-passive-preamps/ (http://www.tortugaaudio.com/product/ldrx-ldrxb-passive-preamps/)
Cheers, :thumb:
Morten
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Here's a pic of the rear panel of the LDRxB Balanced Passive Preamp showing final fitup of parts. The XLR jacks are heavy duty cast Neutriks with gold connections. The RCA jacks are Cardas. As shown here the panel (3.25" by 12.5") is raw brushed aluminum prior to being black anodized which happens later this week. The XLR socket in the lower right is standing in for a dual USB socket which uses the same XLR form factor and should arrive from our supplier in a few days. To the left of the power entry module is the 115/230AC selector switch. Above that is the 12V Trigger Out.
We are on track for release at the end of the month at which time we'll start building and shipping units beginning the first week of September starting with existing pre-orders. There is still time to place pre-orders for at 10% discount through Sunday August 31st. http://www.tortugaaudio.com/product/ldrx-ldrxb-passive-preamps/ (http://www.tortugaaudio.com/product/ldrx-ldrxb-passive-preamps/)
Cheers!
Morten
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=104364)
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I just posted this on another thread but thought it worth repeating here.
We've decided to offer optional silver hookup wire for audio signal/ground path in our new LDRx/LDRxB Passive Preamps.
We've chosen Neotech teflon coated 26AWG UP-OCC Silver. UP-OCC stands for "ultra-pure ohno continuous cast" which results in extremely large/long silver metal crystals with the absolute minimum grain boundaries. This is state-of-the-art conductor material for the audiophile community.
The Neotech silver wire option will be $100 for the LDRx single ended and $200 for the LDRxB balanced. Contact me if you're interested in this option if you've already placed a pre-order. We'll be sending out notices of this to everyone with pre-orders. The website will be updated soon to reflect this option.
Cheers,
Morten
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We've updated our website so that the LDRx and LDRxB each have their own product page including various options such as additional inputs (LDRx only), Neotech silver wire upgrade, XLR connector upgrades (LDRxB only) and transformer upgrades (LDRxB only).
Check them out below. Note that the 10% pre-release discount period ends this Sunday.
LDRx Passive Preamp (singled ended): http://www.tortugaaudio.com/product/ldrx-passive-preamp/ (http://www.tortugaaudio.com/product/ldrx-passive-preamp/)
LDRxB Balanced Passive Preamp: http://www.tortugaaudio.com/product/ldrxb-balanced-passive-preamp/ (http://www.tortugaaudio.com/product/ldrxb-balanced-passive-preamp/)
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Morten,
Any progress reports on the new units?
Thanks,
Andy
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Any progress reports on the new units?
Yes indeed. Enclosure parts are at the anodizer and will be ready and picked up on Tuesday next week (would have been Monday but for the Labor Day holiday). So as of Tuesday we will start building and shipping units. We will post product photos as soon as we have them available next week. Since we have quite a backlog of pre-orders it will take a while to get caught up but yours will be one of the earlier units to ship. It's been a long and winding road but we're almost there at last. :thumb:
Best,
Morten
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Morten, You were going to send messages to pre-order people about the silver wire option?
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EXCELLENT!
Photos of the units as they start to roll out would be cool too!
Yes indeed. Enclosure parts are at the anodizer and will be ready and picked up on Tuesday next week (would have been Monday but for the Labor Day holiday). So as of Tuesday we will start building and shipping units. We will post product photos as soon as we have them available next week. Since we have quite a backlog of pre-orders it will take a while to get caught up but yours will be one of the earlier units to ship. It's been a long and winding road but we're almost there at last. :thumb:
Best,
Morten
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Morten, You were going to send messages to pre-order people about the silver wire option?
I'll be sending something out first thing tomorrow and there will be time to accommodate last minute upgrade requests. But thanks for reminding me. :green:
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In recognition of this Labor Day Weekend holiday and the release of our new LDRx and LDRxB Passive Preamps, we are extending the 10% pre-release discount through midnight tomorrow (Monday - September 1st).
We commence building and shipping LDRx and LDRxB units on Tuesday! Woot woot! :thumb:
LDRx - 10% off at $1346 - http://www.tortugaaudio.com/product/ldrx-passive-preamp/ (http://www.tortugaaudio.com/product/ldrx-passive-preamp/)
LDRxB (balanced) - 10% off at $2156 - http://www.tortugaaudio.com/product/ldrxb-balanced-passive-preamp/ (http://www.tortugaaudio.com/product/ldrxb-balanced-passive-preamp/)
Cheers!
Morten
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It's official. We've released the new LDRx/LDRxB Passive Preamps and will commence building/shipping units this week. :thumb:
Those of you who pre-ordered units will have received notifications. We'll be shipping units in the order they were placed starting with the pre-paid customers who converted their LDR3/LDR6 orders to LDRx/LDRxB's back when we started taking pre-orders.
I know everyone is keen on seeing pics of the actual products. Pics will be available later in the week and we'll be sure to post some here as well as on our website.
If you've been waiting for these new passive preamps to be released before ordering, the 10% pre-order discount is only available through the end of today (Monday) and then reverts to the normal full price tomorrow.
Best,
Morten
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Fantastic News!
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Did the first week of production go as well as you would have hoped?
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Did the first week of production go as well as you would have hoped?
Ha! When does that ever happen? Our anodizer failed to double etch all the panel parts and then proceeded to rack them improperly so they all had to be re-done. Thankfully that's behind us and the parts look fantastic. Expect to have a finished product pic posted this weekend. I expect the units will appear very similar to the 3D renderings only with a bit more real-life character. Your unit will ship out this week for sure.
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KICK A$$ !!!!
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Morten,
As a pre-order purchaser of the LDRx I wanted to voice my appreciation of your craftsmanship and I fully appreciate your hesitation in advertising (pictures) your latest flagship. I love that you want to demonstrate your new product only once it is the best it can possibly be. It gives me comfort knowing that you hold that highest of a standards for your products and I literally can't wait for my LDRx to arrive (ask the wife)! I've been glued to my computer for the last two weeks hoping for a glimpse of the new preamp (no pressure). Do what you need to do my friend but know that you have (many) customers eagerly awaiting your latest and greatest! :thumb:
Cheers,
Brandon
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Morten,
As a pre-order purchaser of the LDRx I wanted to voice my appreciation of your craftsmanship and I fully appreciate your hesitation in advertising (pictures) your latest flagship. I love that you want to demonstrate your new product only once it is the best it can possibly be. It gives me comfort knowing that you hold that highest of a standards for your products and I literally can't wait for my LDRx to arrive (ask the wife)! I've been glued to my computer for the last two weeks hoping for a glimpse of the new preamp (no pressure). Do what you need to do my friend but know that you have (many) customers eagerly awaiting your latest and greatest! :thumb:
Cheers,
Brandon
Hi Brandon,
I want to thank you publicly for your very thoughtful note. When we undertook development of the LDRx we knew it was going to be a heavy lift. And as with most complex endeavors it has followed the rule of "costing twice as much and taking twice as long". Along the way we've made countless design decisions and each time it was with the thought in mind of increasing the inherent value of the product. For example we decided that we didn't want any screws on the front panel. Why? Because it would impact the aesthetic. That resulted in a far more complex and time consuming (in terms of fab/assembly) design. In the end, will it be perfect? Hardly. But it will definitely be distinctive and substantial both physically and in terms of audio performance. I'd hoped to get pics up over the weekend but we ran out of time. Today there will be pics. :D
Best,
Morten
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As we were shooting these pics I commented that these looked like audio porn shots. When we have more time I'll get some lower temperature shots against neutral/white background. These were the best we could do at the end of a crazy busy day. Enjoy! :thumb:
The rear panel is for the LDRxB Balanced unit with the optional Cardas Gold XLR jacks. Bling bling! 8)
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=105033)
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=105034)
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=105035)
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=105036)
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Nice job Morten! :thumb:
I really like the clean front look! The bamboo sides are also refreshingly novel. Everything came together beautifully!
Can't wait to hear it!
Cheers,
Brandon
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As we were shooting these pics I commented that these looked like audio porn shots. When we have more time I'll get some lower temperature shots against neutral/white background. These were the best we could do at the end of a crazy busy day. Enjoy! :thumb:
The rear panel is for the LDRxB Balanced unit with the optional Cardas Gold XLR jacks. Bling bling! 8)
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=105033)
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=105034)
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=105035)
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=105036)
Man is that sharp. Well done!!! I can't wait to get mine!
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Awesome.
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Nice job on the aesthetics Morten, that looks great!
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Suhweet! :o
Best,
Anand.
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As we were shooting these pics I commented that these looked like audio porn shots. When we have more time I'll get some lower temperature shots against neutral/white background. These were the best we could do at the end of a crazy busy day. Enjoy! :thumb:
The rear panel is for the LDRxB Balanced unit with the optional Cardas Gold XLR jacks. Bling bling! 8)
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=105036)
Oh baby I like the look of this preamp :thumb:.
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Morten,
Did my unit ship yet?
Thanks,
Andy
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Morten,
Did my unit ship yet?
Thanks,
Andy
Ships Monday. Finally! You'll be getting a UPS tracking notice soon.
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Nice!
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Morten,
Did my unit ship yet?
Thanks,
Andy
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Morten,
Can you confirm if this unit has been handed over to UPS?
When tracking it just shows "A UPS shipping label has been created". I called UPS and they said they do not have this yet and that the shipping label has only been printed and nothing else.
Thanks,
Andy
Ships Monday. Finally! You'll be getting a UPS tracking notice soon.
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Morten,
Can you confirm if this unit has been handed over to UPS?
When tracking it just shows "A UPS shipping label has been created". I called UPS and they said they do not have this yet and that the shipping label has only been printed and nothing else.
Thanks,
Andy
Andy, your unit was delivered to UPS this morning.
Randy, we're digging out from under backlog as fast as we can working 7 days a week and have brought on more help. As soon as your unit is close to shipping I'll let you know. At the current rate we expect to be all caught up by the end of September.
Best,
Morten
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Morten,
We spoke on the phone yesterday. You described the amount of testing and effort put into testing. It was pretty cool to hear what you put into testing before shipping out to the customer.
You mentioned the last min. tweak to get this 100% done and ready to ship. I appreciate the effort and attention to details.
Thanks,
Andy
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Andy, your unit was delivered to UPS this morning.
Randy, we're digging out from under backlog as fast as we can working 7 days a week and have brought on more help. As soon as your unit is close to shipping I'll let you know. At the current rate we expect to be all caught up by the end of September.
Best,
Morten
Morten,
That's okay since I am leaving town for a week or so next week. Maybe Oct. 1?
Randy
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Keep the quality high. I would rather wait a bit than receive an inferior unit that was rushed!
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If you haven't lived it, it's hard to convey the madness of the first few weeks after releasing a new audio product to in-house manufacture. No matter what's gone before, you're cutting a fresh new unfamiliar trail that one day will be well worn and easy but for the moment each new step is just plain hard work. You sweat all the details and despite all the planning there's always something overlooked that has to figured out and resolved. You have to. And you do. And it does.
In the midst of this crunch time, stopping to smell the roses is a distant notion. But last night after yet another unit had been built, boxed and shipped, I sat down with a glass of wine and took the time to really listen to the next LDRx preamp sitting on the test bench waiting for final checkout. This one had the optional Neotech silver hookup wire in the audio path.
Keep in mind that I listen to every preamp we produce before it ships so I'm quite familiar with how they generally sound. But it quickly became apparent after a few minutes of critical listening to this new LDRx that we'd truly managed to raise the bar with this model. Imaging, sound stage, clarity, detail and bass never sounded so good. The whole had indeed become greater than the sum of its parts. As an audio designer and music lover, that's a moment to savor.
This morning it's back to digging out from under our backlog of orders. But I take great comfort in knowing that our customers are getting a great product. For those of you still waiting for your unit to ship, I beg your continued patience. Over the next 2 weeks we expect to be totally caught up.
Enjoy!
Morten
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Here's a reference to another thread where the subject of impedance bridging and suitability of using passive preamps with amps having lower impedances (10k) is discussed.
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=129078.msg1363872#msg1363872
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A few more pics of an LDRxB. Includes closeup of the left/right hand side of rear panel of standard LDRxB (balanced) with Neutrik XLR jacks. The last shot shows the typical internal layout of the LDRxB with dual controller boards mated to vertical I/O switching boards. Things get quite busy here. Note unbalanced/balanced conversion transformer towards the rear that converts the RCA input labeled In3b but actually operates as a separate 4th input.
(http://www.tortugaaudio.com/images/ldrxb_rear_right1.jpg)
(http://www.tortugaaudio.com/images/ldrxb_rear_left.jpg)
(http://www.tortugaaudio.com/images/ldrxb_inside.jpg)
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Gorgeous!
Best,
Anand.
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I just received the Tortuga LDRxB preamp this afternoon. I'm currently using the PS-Audio PWD-MkII and it pairs very well with the LDRxB. I have to say, this is the best sounding preamp I've had in my system. The improvements are easily recognizable. I'll be posting more details, but from what I've heard so far, this thing is a giant killer.
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.... from what I've heard so far, this thing is a giant killer.
:weights: :banana piano: :bounce: :rock: :dance: :beer: (need a "giant killer" emoticon)
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Received the note below last night from an LDRx customer. :thumb:
I have been a hi fi enthusiast since I bought my first stereo in 1980. Over the decades, I have tried numerous active preamps: solid state and tube (was never able to live with solid state, so usually ran tubed units), as well as passive units: potentiometer/resistor based units sound thin (even with impedance matching), and I had much better luck with TVCs. But, I bought your LDRx (with the silver wire, when that option was offered) and it is hands down the best preamp I’ve used: all the comments made by others are spot on. Open, easy, organic, transparent etc., and - above all else - natural. It makes other preamps (esp. active ones) sound electronic and mechanical. Thanks Morten, brilliant work.
sincerely, E.R.C., Madison WI
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I couldn't have said it better. I'm rediscovering my entire music collection, and have been reduced to tears by things I thought I knew. Precisely why it is so darned good I have no idea (I'm an electronics engineer by background), and frankly I couldn't care less - it is an audio tour-de-force.
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I've had my Tortuga preamp now for a couple of years in one form or another. My experience is similar to the posts of other satisfied users. The Tortuga gets out of the way of the music better than any preamp I've owned or heard. Dynamics are now not limited. Channel separation is easily better than any active unit I've heard. Bass goes extremely deep, giving lots of work for my 8 Hz subs to do. Speaking of bass, I still can't make sense of how this passive unit provides all the bass power and slam of the best active units. The nuances of instrumental character are always there no matter how complex the music gets. Stage width (thanks to the great channel separation) and depth are as good as anything out there that I've heard. Best of all, the longer you own one, the more you appreciate how non-fatiguing the Tortuga is.
P.S. Morten, I vote to keep the simple remote. It does everything it needs to do (along with that new feature you're implementing for my LDRxB).
Regards,
Robert
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P.S. Morten, I vote to keep the simple remote. It does everything it needs to do (along with that new feature you're implementing for my LDRxB).
Regards,
Robert
Okay, I'll bite. Since I am about to order my second one, what "new feature"?
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Okay, I'll bite. Since I am about to order my second one, what "new feature"?
This is something kernelbob and I have been discussing for quite a while now and in fact I owe him this feature in a unit of his I've been holding on to for way too long now.
It's really an R&D feature that has yet to be fully implemented and vetted but the feature, simply put, is phase reversal. By pushing a button on the remote, the phase of the audio signals in the LDRxB can be reversed. There is a school of thought that this can make a discernible difference in sound quality by matching the same phasing laid down in the recording/mastering process. Since it's essentially impossible to know what was done, the simplest way to test this is to check it out while listening. To do this requires terminating and assigning a given input to 2 input channels wherein each is wired the opposite of the other. The wiring gets a bit messy. It requires some custom software. Once this gets implemented and kernelbob has had some time with this feature I'll have more information and decide if/when this might become a standard feature of the LDRxB.
To be clear, this feature is more than just a firmware update as it also requires additional hardware/wiring but it could be retrofitted into existing units.
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Thanks Morten. Interesting, and yes, such a feature could be quite useful. Do you have a rough ETA on its availability, if ever? I understand it requires some complicated work, and I do wonder if enough customers might want such a feature to make it worth rolling out. Anyway, thanks.
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Thanks Morten. Interesting, and yes, such a feature could be quite useful. Do you have a rough ETA on its availability, if ever? I understand it requires some complicated work, and I do wonder if enough customers might want such a feature to make it worth rolling out. Anyway, thanks.
Can not give any estimates on timing or even if this will become a feature. Too early to say.
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Can not give any estimates on timing or even if this will become a feature. Too early to say.
Understood. Thanks.
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Added a couple of updated pics of the LDRxB Balanced Passive Preamp rear panel.
The original rear panel had the option of using Cardas XLR jacks. These proved to be a huge disappointment. Not in terms of sonics but in terms of mechanical reliability. They would literally fall apart, often during shipment so we stopped even offering Cardas XLR jacks. We now use Neutriks exclusively for balanced I/O and they are all around excellent XLR jacks.
(https://www.tortugaaudio.com/images/LDRxB_left_rear_corner.jpg)
(https://www.tortugaaudio.com/images/LDRxB_right_rear_corner.jpg)
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Pics of the newly updated LDRxB.V25 Balanced Passive Preamp. More info here: https://www.tortugaaudio.com/products/passive-preamps/ldrxb-v25-balanced-passive-preamp/ (https://www.tortugaaudio.com/products/passive-preamps/ldrxb-v25-balanced-passive-preamp/) :thumb:
(https://www.tortugaaudio.com/images/ldrxb.v25_rearview_angle.jpg)
(https://www.tortugaaudio.com/images/ldrxB_front_with_fingers_1000px.jpg)
(https://www.tortugaaudio.com/images/ldrxb.v25_topview_internal.jpg)
(https://www.tortugaaudio.com/images/ldrxb.v25_top_view.jpg)
(https://www.tortugaaudio.com/images/ldrxb.v25_knob_corner.jpg)
(https://www.tortugaaudio.com/images/ldrxb.v25_sideview.jpg)
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So it doesn't look like the RCA's are transformer coupled like you had done in the past. So when you select the RCA (input 4) you are only sending the signal to one of the preamp boards and getting the unbalanced output from the same board?
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Hi all,
Though the comments regarding absolute phase/polarity inversion are not recent, I wanted to post a long term update on my experience with the option. I've used the Tortuga LDRxB with the phase inversion option now for a couple of years and have auditioned it in various systems.
The degree of difference between "normal" versus "inverted" is much influenced by the quality of the bass drivers in your speakers and the control provided by your amplification. With more rigid, fast, controlled drivers there is more difference between the normal/inverted setting than with drivers that exhibit a higher amount of flexing. Similarly, using an amplifier that does not adequately control the drivers, there is less difference. However, with well controlled, fast drivers with a higher Young's modulus (ratio of stiffness to weight), the correct setting is obvious. Regarding the terms "normal" and "inverted", these are relative to your system's configuration. Each gain stage inverts phase. Whether you attach the red speaker cable to one terminal or the other inverts phase, etc..
Once you've lived with the Tortuga LDRxB with the phase inversion option, you'll find that you can tell if a recording is correct or needs to be inverted relative to your system's acoustic polarity without even having to test the normal/inverted setting.
A key feature with the Tortuga is that you can switch between phase settings with the remote from your listening position. The other great feature is that you can at the same time select (also from the remote) between the various input impedance settings that best suit your system and the recording. In my system, just changing from one impedance setting to another only 3k higher or lower modifies the flavor of the sound and I frequently switch to the setting that gets the most balanced, natural sound from a recording whether it was recorded last year of half a century ago.
The Tortuga is an exceedingly transparent and revealing tool. Not having any gain stages, capacitors,switches, or potentiometers is something to hear. The features of absolute phase control and custom input impedance settings (all from the remote) are features I would now not be without. Add that it is a bargain compared to the sonic competition.
Best,
Robert
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So it doesn't look like the RCA's are transformer coupled like you had done in the past. So when you select the RCA (input 4) you are only sending the signal to one of the preamp boards and getting the unbalanced output from the same board?
Correct. In hindsight the sonic drawbacks of converting/splitting an unbalanced signal into a balanced signal using a transformer just so you could have it also appear as a balanced output were not worth it. Better to have a better sounding single ended signal handled as a single-ended signal while also making it available on one phase of the balanced output albeit at a slightly lower energy level.