Schlippwhip68
Addicted to Fun and Learning
Nobsound VOL-3/V1-XLR HiFi Passive Preamp Volume Attenuator RCA/XLR St
Warm tips 1.Available in RCA and XLR Versions: Please choose the appropriate version based on your audio setup. 2.Please use high-quality cables with good shielding performance, otherwise there will be noise. 3.With no gain, no any amplification, only control the signal from the audio source...
doukaudio.com
This is somewhat a fresh break from active pre amps. As many (do and don't) on ASR, I have been tinkering with op amp/valve/power supply rolling in anything and everything where it was, is and will be possible also with great results here and there. This example from Douk Audio arrived today to serve the very opposite of those endeavour's and initial impressions....are very, very good!
The Nobsound V1 XLR offers a good solid weight to the unit, I was hoping this would be the case as to avoid the dreaded 'Mexican Wheelie' which is a bane of smaller hifi gear universally. Cable weight is very nicely counter balanced with this unit, so no lift at the front end.
A very nice Matt black finish to the unit which has a feel of durability to it (sandblasted?) rather than a thin painted finish, it also happens to match my Audiolab M-PWR colour/finish too.
The Alps potentiometer is super smooth to turn with a small amount of resistance and the nob itself is a good solid piece of aluminium. Volume increase/decrease is very gradual and again smooth with no sudden jumping at any given point, excellent performance! As far as any colouration of the sound goes then the purpose of this passive pre amp or any for that matter, is not to allow any sonic influence and the Nobsound V1 delivers exactly that.
The entire sound signature from my test dac comes through unadulterated and I simply have nothing else to need of it, very well executed. The Bass, mids and highs are as close to the original sound as the dac can deliver, no influences from second stage resistor's, op amps, valves, power supplies and so on. The fitting of my Neutrik XLR plugs are flush with no play once they are plugged in, a nice tight fit.
I have still have time for my active pre amps with my op amp and valves of choice because there are times when a switch to such are welcome but here I am talking zero colour and zero dilution of the sound of whatever is being streamed into the dac with the Nobsound V1 XLR.
Value for money is exceptional to be fair and this is a solid unit from Douk which I fully recommend to any one wanting to clear out any powered stage between the dac and power amp. If you dac has volume control then maybe this will not matter but for those who dont then this is an excellent solution.
Douk Audio have over the last 18 months released some commendable products imo. I have there U2 Pro (2025), the P7 Pre amp, the A5 mini amp and now the V1 passive pre amp. The quality of the build and parts have not brought question most of the time, well once where I received a slightly damaged Capacitor but negligible and after sales service do listen. The P7 performs blisteringly well and now after a few months use, the valve upgrade and yes, op amp too, has 'settled into the road' and sounds great! Douk's flagship amp the G7 looks like a very capable unit to and some reviews are starting to surface on YouTube, I would take a look at that amp if you are looking. The A5 is by far my favourite amp of 2025 in regard to design and the TI3255 sound and again imo surpassed Aiyima last year regardless.
The Nobsound V1 XLR Passive Preamp, its a winner!
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