Vinyl Asylum: REVIEW: Lehmann Black Cube Phono Preamp by Bruce from DC

Having had this preamp for about a month, I can offer some comments about its effect on the performance of a "bottom-feeder" vinyl playback system and in comparison to the Creek OBH-8 SE, which it replaced. I bought this unit used from an owner local to me, so it was fully broken in.

First, the Creek unit was plagued by severe RFI problems that I could never totally eliminate. I live in a very high RFI environment, less than 5 km from several TV broadcast towers that are pumping megawatts of signal into the air. Many electronic devices in my home are plagued by RFI, including phones and even wall-wart powered electronic keyboards. The Cube is almost totally immune to the RFI in my house. (If you stick your ear in the speaker with the volume set at for a reasonable playback level, you can hear some noise.) I'm going to replace the stock power chord with a shielded aftermarket cord and see if that helps. Also because of the physical location of my TT and the cube, I cannot power it through the power conditioner that supplies the rest of my electronics.

Sonic differences, compared to the Creek:
--greater resolution of sonic detail. For the first time, I could clearly hear the sax playing with BB King's Band in his 1970 "Live in Cook County Jail" record

--greater reproduction of soundstage depth. 45 rpm Angel re-release of Firebird suite, quite spectacular

--much better reproduction of very low bass (not always a plus; one side of my 2-record Van Morrison live set has a continuous LF tone not previously audible)

--less aggressive, almost rolled-off, top end. The Creek's top end is not spitty, but compared to the Cube, seems elevated. Compared to most CD reproduction, the Cube seems a trifle "laid-back." All the high frequency details are there with the Cube; it's just that they seem somewhat muted.

--not quite as sharp a reproduction of transients, compared to the Creek. I'm not sure what to make of this. I would not call the Cube "slow" or "mushy," and this may simply be the resulted of a less elevated top end response, as compared to the Creek.

I am not in a position to say whether or not the Cube is a giant-killer, compared to other phono pre's that cost over US$1,000. I would say that the approximately doubled price of the Cube over the Creek results in significantly better performance, not even taking the elimination of RFI into account. Clearly, the Cube deserves a better table and cartridge and, after a while, it will get it.

REVIEW: Lehmann Black Cube Phono Preamp Review by Bruce from DC at Audio Asylum