Electronic stepped attenuators
Passive Preamps
Active Tube & Solid State Preamps & Buffers
Preamp Controllers & Displays
Light Dependent Resistor (LDR) Attenuation
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info@tortugaaudio.com
Since 2012
“The ePot.V3 Mini (the “Mini” ) is a panel mounted electronic stepped attenuator that offers exceptional sonic performance with advantages that no mechanical attenuator can match.”
“The “Mini” is literally a direct physical replacement for any volume potentiometer or mechanical stepped attenuator that through-hole mounts directly into a typical front panel, is secured by a nut and washer, to which you then attach a conventional volume control knob.”
“The ePot.V3 Mini is intended for any DIYer, designer or OEM who is looking for a high performance volume control alternative to conventional potentiometers or mechanical stepped attenuators.”
Tortuga Audio’s flagship LDR3000T integrates proven proprietary LDR attenuation technology with an active tube gain stage and a JFET solid state output buffer to produce a truly unique first-of-kind high performance LDR hybrid tube preamp. Now available with with optional reference level VCAP copper teflon capacitors. More info on the LDR3000T available here.
I'm incredibly impressed. I would recommend this (pre)amp to anyone....I am truly gobsmacked by this (pre)amp.
Our handcrafted, high-end passive and tube preamplifiers and buffers are based on our proprietary light-dependent resistor (LDR) attenuation technology. The size of an M&M candy, these digitally-controlled, analog resistors control volume using light from a sealed LED and an embedded photoresistor. The resulting attenuation yields a clear, natural and highly satisfying sound with minimal manipulation of the audio signal. Designed, manufactured, assembled by hand, and shipped to you directly from South Florida.
Our preamps employ a simple Apple remote, a back-up control knob, and an interactive menu driven high resolution OLED display that is invisible when the preamp is turned off. No labels. No logos. No bling. Just a clean simple design. Welcome to 21st century audio controls.
We occasionally send out some of our equipment for reviews by select audio professionals. With reviews you never know what you’re going to get back. Most recently we asked Noam Bronstein of the Canadian Wall Of Sound website to review both our LDR3.V25 Passive Preamp by itself and then with the addition of our TPB.V1 Tube Preamp Buffer. The resulting review is perhaps one of the most detailed examinations of these two complementary pieces of equipment to date. We trust you’ll find this review as informative and helpful as we did.
“I’ll say right from the outset – the improvement the LDR(3.V25) made in my system was not subtle.”
“I can say with confidence that this is the best preamplification I’ve lived with to date.”
Audio design is a long series of choices. When given a choice we more often than not opt for the better and more robust component. We choose this approach because we are passionate about audio and the music it brings to our lives. In some cases we allow the customer to choose certain upgrades that best suit their budget.
We are pleased to announce that we are now using VH Audio’s VCap ODAM (Oil Damped Advanced Metalized) coupling capacitors in our TPB Tube Preamp Buffer and future tube preamp equipment.
“Magical, forgiving, like the OIMP but with more texture and bloom… no loss of detail. Seductive in many ways.”
“For many audiophiles the “best” preamplifier is the one that does the least damage to the signal. If you are one of these audiophiles, the Tortuga Audio LDR3.V2 could be your best and your last preamplifier.”
What if, after 180+ years of mechanical pots and stepped attenuators, there was another way to approach high performance audio volume control?
(Update 9.15.20) Following a year and a half of development, we are pleased to announce the release of our new ePot.V3 Mini and Max electronic stepped attenuators & preamp controllers. Although long in coming, the ePot.V3 products are the best sounding electronic stepped attenuators and preamp controllers we’ve designed to date. We are really excited about these new beauties and are confident you’ll enjoy them as well. Below you’ll
The LDR300x.V3 preamp (passive & active versions) replaces our long running LDR3.V25 Passive Preamp and reintroduces an updated version of our short-lived LDR300.V25 Buffered Preamp that was discontinued in early 2019.
