General Asylum: REVIEW: Antique Sound Lab Passive TI Passive Components by Todd Krieger

I've tried a variety of passive line stages over the years, most notably the Audio Synthesis Passion, Reference Line Pre-Eminence 2, and Promethean CD-director. I've always liked the neutral character of passive stages, albeit losing a little bit of the sonic fireworks that active stages are capable of. The Promethean has been my reference line stage for a couple years now. In waiting to try some lofty tube stages, I'd figure I'd give the inexpensive Antique Sound Lab Passive TI a try. For $399, not much to lose!

The Antique Sound Lab Passive TI is a unique design. Instead of a resistor "voltage divider" network used by almost all other passive stages, the volume is controlled via a multi-tapped audio-grade transformer, very similar to interstage transformers found in exotic tube stages. The taps and windings on the transformer control the volume gradations. This mundane unit has only three knobs- left volume, right volume, and source selector, plus a tape loop switch. Including tape deck, this unit can accommodate up to five sources. (This has been an issue- some stages offer only two or three.) The volume controls use 12-position selectors to the autoformer taps. Note the unit I ended up getting has the gold face. The silkscreen letter is rather light, which is common for early production units.

Now to the sound. The passive TI has a sonic signature as unique as its design. Macrodynamics and "immediacy" are its strong suits. For small-scale jazz and small-scale classical (acoustic music) sound almost as if the performers are in the room. There is a sense of "bloom" one would associate with "tube sound," even though there are no tubes. (My system at the moment has no tubes!) The bottom end isn't the most-extended, but on the other hand, the bottom was devoid of the congestion which seems to plague most passive and tube stages. Complex passages from well-recorded rock and large-scale classical works are also very convincing. With the natural large-scale dynamics rarely captured by most other stages, including stages five times the modest price of this unit. The sense of realism is eclipsed only by some of the best tube stages, and the bottom is eclipsed only by some of the best solid-state stages. Soundstage is also convincing, with *pinpoint* lateral placement and excellent depth. Not quite "layered" like the best however. The ASL Passive TI will end the notion that all passive stages compress dynamics. This passive stage maintains large-scale dynamics as well as the best active stages out there.

Weaknesses- Nope, the stage is not perfect. When I referred to the "bloom," on some recordings, especially those with a lot of upper midrange energy, this can result in a "mechanical" hardness in the sound. A slight loss of microdynamics. This is most-noticeable with hard rock on heavy-metal, and also classical works with a lot of percussion. Attacks and decays of cymbals, although better than most line stages, have a slight added "sheen." Although not amusical, timbres of instruments seem to possess a common set of overtones- this is not a stage that will make one distinguish a Strad from an Amati, or a Steinway from a Bosendorfer- yet still, in spite of that, the tone is still quite natural. I think the sonic signature is basically a euphonic one, and the best part is, for enjoying music, the ASL passive can be listened to for extended periods of time. Especially when mated with tubes and/or an analog front end. The stage could sound bright with inexpensive solid state and with lesser digital rigs. I would *not* consider this piece "forgiving," and it would mate best with gear that *is* "forgiving." I think in spite of its modest price, this stage will mate best with the expensive stuff. Hopefully, the snob-factor amongst those with lofty systems won't make them discount this killer line stage because of its price.

Overall, the Antique Sound Lab Passive TI is maybe one of the three of four-best stages I've ever tried. And when price is thrown into the equation, it will make a lot of people who blew over two grand on their line stages pull their hair out. Antique Sound Lab has put out one of the best bang-for-the-buck pieces I've encountered in quite some time in the Passive TI line stage. (And I'm not totally certain that the $3000 tube stage I will audition is going to beat it!!) Bravo Antique Sound Lab!!

REVIEW: Antique Sound Lab Passive TI Passive Components Review by Todd Krieger at Audio Asylum