This is the matching preamp to the MIPA power amplifier we have for sale in a separate listing. Like the MIPA, the SWGLA (Silver Wire Gain Line Amplifier) is a battery powered preamp with three line inputs and a silver wire transformer volume control. To say that this preamp and its combination with the MIPA is one of the most transparent sounding pre/power is an understatement. The purity in sound from SWGLA is almost benchmark setting in our opinion. There is almost no coloration which really sets the tone for the kind of source unit and speakers you would be pairing it with. We had them paired with the EMM Labs TSDX and DAC-2x transport/DAC combo and the Symphonic Line RG5 speakers and they were an incredible sounding setup. The SWGLA (and its MIPA power amp) was a transparent vessel that just let the music flow right through uninhibited. Being that it is battery powered, you can just imagine how dead quite the preamp was. And we are not even talking about how black the background is because there isn’t any. It is just like a void, an empty space until the music seeps in to place. Truly amazing stuff.
Audio Consulting only makes their gears in 230V so units that are sold here in the US (like this one) comes supplied with voltage converters, battery chargers and a power strip for the two AC/DC chargers to be plugged into. These are all provided for by Audio Consulting. When the preamp is at near full capacity, the digital display on the front will show a number reading of around 12.85. When it gets down to around 11, that is when you start charging it back up. A key note to take note off is when turning on the amp, you would switch it from “off” (the left position) to “standby” (the middle position) and after a pause of a few seconds turn the knob to its right position where the preamp comes on. The preamp when fully charged, should have enough “juice” to last three, if not more, months if your weekly use is around 7-9 hours. Of course the volume level you listen to does impact on this so we would recommend charging them up at the end of each month. This is the only time where you would have the AC/DC chargers plugged in. Once the amp is charged, you would pull out the charging cables and the preamp is ready to be used.
As you can see from the pictures, the preamp is incredible condition, almost like new. One owner from new. We have the original box and will securely pack them for safe shipping.
