RE Designs Audio SCPA 1 Review!

[gene]

Here is our review of the RE Design SCPA 1 Six Channel Preamp.

 

[Rip Van Woofer]

It looks like Dan did for six channels what the Morrison ELAD did for two: design a just-the-essentials analog preamp with the best theoretical performance you can wring out of it, pay no heed to 'phile fetishes, and don't worry about it being pretty*. Not for everyone (including me), but for the few who need it or just dig the concept...

I think three ELADs would cost a tad less and do more or less the same thing, albeit less conveniently. That precision six gang pot must cost a pretty penny by itself!

And this got me thinking of using shielded wire inside my DIY power amps and active crossovers when I build them (I just ordered Elliot Sound PCBs for his P3A amp). Gotta read Dan's grounding article in depth yet, too.

[*Kind of like my Subaru WRX, come to think of it! ]

 

[countraven]

I think it's a very cool looking piece of gear. Come on, those knobs are beautiful! It looks like a precision instrument. I still can't quite get over the price, though. It's clearly well-built and everything with nice parts, but wow - almost THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS for a six-way volume trimmer? Ouch! I mean, the preamp costs more than the disc player it was used with, just to tweak the levels? It seems somewhat absurd in a way.

No offense to Dan, I'm just whining because I can't quite bring myself to splurge on one! Maybe this alcohol will help...

 

[Dan Banquer]

Scpa 1

Unfortunately, precision analog costs money, and there's a discrete 6 deck attenuator that goes with those precision trims. However, I have been known to give discounts, especially as the end of the year approaches.
d.b.