Introducing one of the most remarkable musical instruments in the world, the BHK Signature Preamplifier. This exceptionally built vacuum tube preamplifier opens up the music and reveals nuances, life and space not previously heard on your system. It is the perfect interface between your sources and power amplifier. Designed by Bascom H. King, the BHK Signature distills Bascom’s 50 plus years of high-end audio design experience into a single masterpiece of audio amplification. “This is the best sounding preamplifier I have ever designed or heard,” and that’s saying a lot for a man of Bascom’s experience. Preamplifiers play a critical role in any separates audio system, strategically positioned between sources of music: CD players, phono preamps, DACs, tape recorders and tuners – and your power amplifier – the preamp serves essential roles of control and isolation. Control is simple in concept, but extraordinarily difficult to design in an acoustically transparent manner. Control duties such as input switching, volume, balance, and amplification can place unwanted acoustic thumbprints on the music if not designed with extraordinary care. The challenge in any design is to do as little damage to music’s purity as possible. Details on how each section of the BHK Signature executes control with minimal sonic impact can be found in the Overview section on this page.
It all starts at the input
The BHK Signature Preamplifier features 5 identical balanced and single ended inputs. Each of the inputs, whether single ended (RCA) or balanced (XLR) are immediately converted to a pure balanced signal by the dual triode vacuum tube for lowest distortion, highest linearity performance. Input switching is accomplished through hand-selected double-pole double-throw, gold plated relays that we’ve chosen for their sonic neutrality. The signals, once selected, are passed directly the revolutionary new multi-stage attenuator controlling both volume and balance.
If the preamp is going to be part of a home theater system controlling the main left and right channels, each input can be user-assigned as a home theater bypass.
Techninė specifikacija:
Audio inputs
Coaxial RCA single ended - 5; XLR Balanced - 5
Input Impedance
Unbalanced (RCA) - 33KΩ minimum; Balanced (XLR) - 66KΩ minimum
Sensitivity
Unbalanced 1.3V/33KΩ; Balanced 1.3V/66KΩ
Audio Outputs
Coaxial RCA single ended - 2; XLR Balanced - 2
Analog Audio Output Level
4.0 Vrms
Output Impedance
<100Ω
Frequency Response 20-20KHz
+/- 0.1dB
THD&IM @ 1KHz (full scale)
<0.03%
Bandwidth
-3dB 0.1Hz - 200kHz
Headphone Output Power
300Ω - >200mW; 16Ω > - 4.0 Watts
S/N Ratio
>90dB (1KHz)
THD & IM 1 volt out
<0.02%
Output Impedance
<0.5Ω