The preamplifier is the control center of your system. 

The goal of a true audiophile grade preamplifier is to offer gain, switching and other conveniences, while at the same time passing the original signal downstream without adding distortion or a sonic signature of its own. Featuring extremely short signal paths, a fully regulated power supply, and a true balanced circuit design, the preamp delivers an exceptionally accurate portrayal of the input. User adjustable via the included remote control, the Sanders Sound Systems preamp allows for adjustment of overall system gain, individual gain between devices and channel balance in precise 1db increments. These features combined with switching for up to 6 sources and pass through for use with home theater processors make this a truly modern preamplifier for the discriminating enthusiast.

While superb sonics are a must, that is not enough.  The preamp should be very "user friendly," convenient to use, and have all the control functions needed to make it really useful.  While many preamps offer excellent sonics, most fail to deliver convenience and complete functionality.

Sanders Sound Systems has gone to great effort to make a preamp that not only sounds flawless, but has made the preamp a pleasure to use.  All preamp functions are available from both the front panel and by remote control.  You won't have to look for a lost remote to make the preamp operate while you are standing right in front of it! 

 

The Sanders Sound Systems preamplifier is a "line stage" unit, which means that it doesn't include a phono preamp. This is because it is difficult, expensive, and complicated to do a phono preamp well. It didn't seem sensible to force every customer to pay a large extra price for a phono preamp stage that few would use. So instead, Sanders Sound Systems offers a separate, matching, dedicated phono preamp.

Front panel controls are done through micro‑touch electronic switches.  You won't find the preamp sliding around on the shelf as you try to work stiff, conventional switches.

Conventional rotary volume controls have channel matching errors of around 20% and this causes the left/right balance to shift as you change the volume.  To solve this problem, some preamp manufacturers use discrete, precision resistors on a multi‑step switch.  While this solves the channel tracking problem; they introduce new ones.  Specifically, they have very limited resolution due to too few steps (typically 31 steps of 2 dB each).  These "stepped attenuators" produce a very annoying switching transient (click or pop) at each step.

Sanders Sound Systems solves these problems by using the "volume control" knob to drive an optical comparitor circuit.  The optical circuit operates a microprocessor controlled electronic gain system. This permits control of the overall level using one hundred, one‑dB steps, with precision of greater than 0.1% between channels.  The microprocessor waits for the musical signal to cross the zero point before switching to the next step, so there are no switching transients.

The volume control knob has detents and rotates continually, so it has an infinite number of detents.  The detents let you "feel" each 1 dB change in level.

There is a digital display with beautiful, blue, light emitting diodes (LEDs).  The display continuously shows the output level of the unit and switches automatically to show level differences between channels when you adjust the balance.  You no longer have to guess at the levels or try to see fine gradations on a knob to know the levels, since you can see them from several feet away.

You can adjust the level of each input.  This way, when you switch from one source to another, you will not get "blasted" with too much sound from one, and not enough from another.  Source input levels are displayed on the digital readout for reproducibility, ease of use, and quick comparisons between components.

Most components come with a remote control transmitter that only controls that particular component.  You therefore end up adding this remote transmitter to the pile of remotes you have for all your other electronics and video units.  Rather than contribute to "remote clutter", the Sanders Sound Systems Preamp comes with the very fine "Home Theater Master" remote.  This remote can be programmed (with pre‑defined codes or by "learning" the codes from other remotes) to run all your components.  Once programmed, you can use the Sanders Sound Systems remote for operating everything.  You no longer have to look through a pile of remotes every time you want to adjust something in your audio/video system.

 

   

 

 

 

INPUTS	6 inputs at line level, including tape and video processor loops   One balanced using XLR connector
OUTPUT	All outputs may be used simultaneously   4 outputs at line level   Two fixed level outputs (monitor and processor loops)  Two controlled by electronic attenuator (one balanced and one single-ended)
Frequency Response	-3 dB at 5 Hz and 200 kHz
Noise	Greater than 100 dB below 1 volt reference
Distortion	Less than 0.01% from 10 Hz to 20 KHz
Output Impedance	50 ohms, non-reactive, balanced or single-ended
Input Impedance	47 kohms, balanced or single-ended
Gain	20 dB
Maximum Output	10 volts peak
Crosstalk	Less than 70 dB @ 20 KHz
Power Supply	Regulated with shielded toroidal transformer and 20000 uF of capacitance
Power Consumption	10 watts
Dimensions	17" wide, 1 3/4" tall, 8 1/2" deep (43.2cm x 4.4cm x 21.6cm)
Weight	14 pounds, shipping  (6.36 Kgs)