Crave the Unmistakable Sensation of Instruments and Voices in a Defined Acoustic Space? Smooth-Sounding Icon Audio LA5 Tube Preamplifier Plays Music With Premium Balance and Black Silence

At its core, Icon Audio's transformer-based LA5 TX is an all-valve, low-gain line preamplifier that buffers the input and provides the transformer with peak drive. But unlike most of its transformer-based peers--many of which cost much, much more--the UK-designed component utilizes two in-house-developed line-level output transformers to achieve premium balance and astonishing extension, involving dynamics, tube-exclusive richness, and unshakable focus. LA5 TX will instantly appeal to listeners that crave the unmistakable sound of instruments, voices, and atmospherics in a defined acoustic space. And it's 100% Music Direct satisfaction guaranteed.

The design logic behind the output transformers is rather simple. First, a 6SN7 valve buffers the input source, presenting a constant high-impedance load, making irrelevant the strength of the previous stage. (Conversely, if a transformer is only used for gain, the results depend on the power of the previous stage.) LA5 TX's transformer into a perfect balanced output or phono RCA. The preamp's strikingly low 250-ohm output impedance is strong enough to drive practically any length or type of interconnect cable without doing any harm to the signal.

Going the distance, LA5 TX has two chokes in double Pi configuration, which translates into optimal smoothing and inky black silence. A Western Electric-designed 274B rectifier valve--the finest-sounding power valve on the market--adds to the supreme aural presentation. Icon also employs the aforementioned 6SN7 double-triode audio valves, 1940s vintage devices defined by their fluid character, large size, long life, and tremendous stability. Users can also experiment with modern types.

Like all Icon amps and preamps, LA5 TX is entirely point-to-point hand-wired and contains no printed circuit boards or transistors, which degrade valve performance and color the signals. It's all in the service of ensuring that you're hearing music in the finest-possible sound.

A DC heater supply, remote control, high-quality 2W metal film and wire-wound resistors, ALPS Blue motorized volume pot, Solen/SCR audio capacitors, four line inputs, record loop, and gold-plated input terminals are also standard. Icon takes any worry out of the purchase by providing a two-year parts-and-labor warranty as well as full service and support for the lifetime of the product. 

• Icon Audio custom output transformers
• All hand wired point to point
• ALPs Blue motorized volume pot
• Stepped attenuator option
• All Triode simple design
• 2x 6SN7 valves
• 274B Valve rectifier (also use GZ34/5AR4/5U4)
• Double Choke HT supply
• DC heater supply
• High quality 2w metal film, & wire-wound resistors
• Solen/SCR audio capacitors (Jensen option)
• Silver TEFLON audio cable
• Gold-plated Input terminals
• Four line inputs
• Record loop