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Bound for Sound Martin G. DeWulf - Publisher LA-100 by JOULE ELECTRA $1,995 (introductory offer). Line stage only, with inputs and unique tape loop options for line level taping. Mute and standby operation to extend tube life. 222 Post Oak Lane, North Augusta, SC 29841. Ph 803/279-6959. These words do not reflect the last to come from this publication regarding the performance of this preamp. To my knowledge its construction is unique in the industry, though the design concepts employed are by no means new. But the sound, and it’s the sound that counts, is very, very good. Good to the point where it demands comparison to the very top preamps available, or at least the very top preamps available to me. So that’s just what I am attempting to do with some very interesting results, but, I’m not completely done yet…I just had to write anyway.
Use your imagination to aurally picture in your mind the sound of the perfect tube preamp. The highs are airy and sweet, the bass is full with a fair amount of bloom in the lower midrange. And the midrange, ahhhhh, the midrange. It’s deep, resonant and rich, the dense tones and colors…and the contrasts. The dynamic contrasts make the music sound like an effortless song from the deep background of the deep blue sea. This is the kind of sound that one can swim in, immerse oneself in, and forget the rest of the world. The word romantic comes to mind. The above description certainly runs at odds to my conceptualization of absolute transparency in some respects, but I think it safe to say that we all have our dream stream of music that is basically euphoric in nature. Reality is another thing. The LA-100 can actually do some of the things described above. As a matter of fact, in comparison to the other preamps looked at, the LA-100 is remarkably present and dimensional with a reach out and touch it palpability. It strikes me as letting an amazing amount of phase and spatial information through, information that doesn’t come to the fore in most designs. Mid and lower mid timbres are knock you down gorgeous as organs and other instruments rich with harmonic content take on a special quality that seem awesomely real. In the room real. Fun real. The kind of real that makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up and allows your brain to relax. The Amati preamp reviewed last issue had much the same feel in the lower mids, but the LA-100 takes the transparency through a wider envelope where more of the music is positively affected. After a prolonged break-in period (very prolonged) this preamp really started pushing my buttons in a very emotional way. Comparison testing and insertion into various systems was necessary to answer this question. My first comparison was to the Encore preamp reviewed above. Both preamps were auditioned while plugged directly into the wall, and then with only the LA-100 plugged into the Counterpoint PAC-5 that serves so well. The Encore does not perform its best plugged into anything but the wall direct. So go back to the Encore review, read it, then come back here. Don’t worry, I’ll wait for you to get back…Done? OK. These two preamps are different in their priorities and do sound quite unalike. In writing this some weeks after writing the Encore review. I too am looking back at the Encore review and note the comments regarding "mesh" distortion. I feel the same way now as I did then. The LA-100 does an incredible job of sorting the music out and away from the noise and distortion. The result of this is a feeling of dynamic life and energy that the Encore approaches, but does not quite reach the way the LA-100 does (and you know how greatly the Encore is appreciated in these parts). Let me cut through the politically correct statements and simply state that I consider the LA-100 closer to the musical truth, and I’m not talking about euphonics. Next came the Audible Illusions Mod 3 preamp so highly reviewed in the last two issues. Now I’m torn, and I’m in trouble. Just as these two titans of preamp technology met in the Room Tune equipment rack, I was informed that Joule Electra had a new switch for the standby mode and should be returned for an upgrade. Arrrggghh. What I was able to determine was this. The preamps have sonic characters that are distinct while converging on absolute transparency from slightly different angles. But, which is more accurate? Is that important? It’s time to get the peach out and see which preamp has the sweetest taste and the most fuzz. Oh, and by the way, the Music Design hasn’t been mentioned in this review because I’m waiting for a new and revised model to come in. No way to compare that to the others at this point. Maybe soon. TO BE CONTINUED. Wait til you hear about the mechanical constructions of this preamp. It contains things like nos (new old stock) tubes, multiple transformers, batteries, cycling that makes the preamp break-in sooner, and a blueprint from 1957. I’ll also talk about the sonic pro and cons in more detail in the context of some of the great preamps known to me. |
![[LA-100]](images/la100.jpg)
Doing an A-B comparison between the
LA-100 and some of the other prominent preamps revealed a
preamp capable of delivering the goods in just about
every respect. Right now, before things are complete, it
is obvious that this is the type of preamp that many
audiophiles are desirous of, but can’t find, or
can’t afford.