Hi-End(ish) Preamp Ladder Bach priced under $1000

00:00 Intro
00:28 About Bach
03:20 Sound
05:32 vs Schiit Freya +
09:03 vs Acoustic Invader Preamp
11:32 vs my Current Preamp
13:26 vs Traditional Brands
14:28 Pairing
15:44 Shameless Self-promotion

Test system:
Spirit Wind Speakers

#hifi #audiophile #preamp #stereo

[a.grayman]

No remote on a device that controls volume. The review should have ended there instead of pretending even audio Nirvana could make up for that deal breaking oversight. Made in the POC with a POC warranty and no remote, have at it.

[lesarnolfinis]

It would be great if a reviewer could explain the relationship between the brands Ladder, Musician and Denafrips. All three offer look alike inside/outside dacs and preamps.

[sopasadena]

Nice review as always. I know it’s difficult to source Schiit products in your country but the new Schiit Kara ss discrete preamp is supposed to be outstanding

[Firebottleman]

I would like to request a review on the Schiit Audio Kara solid state Preamp please. Almost nothing on the web about this newer product. Thanks

[nicktaylor]

Thanks for another great review. A comparison with the topping pre 90 would be interesting.

[EgonB]

The point of a preamp is literally volume control and input selection, how dare you make one of €900 WITHOUT a remote?

[TransformerVolumeC]

im finally happy with my Promitheus TVC transformer passive line stage with Mark Audio Pensil fullrange DIY towers and triapth ta2022 DIY power amp, topping dac and everything interconnected with Canare RCA and wired with Sommer Elephant 440 speaker cable

[JoseFerreira-zbwh]

A remote is in fact essential in a unit like this... It's about time that amps and dacs with this quality and price point have one. It doens't cost that much and it doesn't seem that difficult to implement. A lot of budget units have one. Brands couls even integrate all-in-one remotes for same brand products (ie a single remote that could control the amp, preamp and dac for example), that would be excellent and even good for the brands i think, as it could be an incentive for customers to buy others products from the same manufacturer. No remote is not good, but lots of them is not good either.

[carlitomelon]

Very interested, however:
WHY can't a microprocessor controlled volume control be setup with a BALANCE CONTROL feature??
Those of us with asymmetric hearing or room layouts are waiting for this feature!
Maybe add the BALANCE CONTROL feature to the $50 remote control option?
🎵🎶🎶😮🎶🎵

[Quarryparksharks]

ladder bach vs Gustard P26 vs Topping Pre90 vs Acoustic invader preamp. which is best? is it worth the extra money for the AI?

[TriAmpHiFi]

How is this different from the "Musician Monoceros" preamp for $1, 169 just reviewed by SoundNews reviews?
Or the "Denafrips Hestia" for $1, 069? This one's $899 & ALL 3 are IDENTICAL. lol..chinese rip-offs 🔈🔉🔊
Do you see all three the same lie?

[Felicianov]

Yes… Please continue to call them out on essential items like a remote.

[CraciunAlexandruGh]

A 900$ pre-amp without a remote ? In the garbage can !
it's 2023, do they expect you to get out of your listening seat and walk over to change the volume ?

[edverbeek]

I also use only OCC copper in my DIY projects, even as loudspeaker cable (Neotech SOCT, solid core 20AWG is thick enough) and I can confirm it makes a significant sound improvement)

[charleskatz]

Too bad about the remote.I think the new Schiit Lyr+ @$599 (in USA) might be a better choice or if balanced is required the Freya +.When lower priced value DACs like the Denafrips Ares don't have a remote the lack of one here is a real omission

[carlitomelon]

Available remote also operates Marantz and Musical Fidelity CD players
-if its same as my Hestia12th remote:
No wasted buttons;-)

[legionecapone]

I'd buy one no question if it had a remote. That is a deal breaker for me and many others I'm sure

[alirezapouyafard]

Gustard p26 preamp is amazing and you can roll up opamp with sparkos op amp and thanks me later also does have remote as well

[eddylam]

LED front looks exactly like the Denafrips Hestia's.

[Moonloop]

great review as usual looks like denafrips a preamp. I think their performance would be very similar. Anyway , not having a remote Iis a huge caveat. I do not think It Is suitable for a desktop solution.