I recently bought a used Luminous audio axiom preamp with caddock resistors. This is a single input/Single output version with 4.9K impedance. I replaced a high end preamp with this. I don't miss anything. I run this into a Bedini 100/100 power amp which has 50K input impedance.

I bought this to try how passive amps work in my system. I feed a Logitech Transporter into the Luminous Audio Axiom preamp.

Very highly recommended.

I like the tube sound, and believe overall its the most musical. Thats why I own a Musical Design power amp; its known for having a tube-like characteristics in a SS design. Bearing in mind that cost does matter I searched for a low-priced tube pre-amp (under $500) to match with it. Two left me wanting( hum/distortion, cable matching, a lack of focus in the imaging ect...ect... Luminous Axiom to the rescue. The solution was to let my power amp sing solo. The Luminous just QUIETLY stepped aside and let the Musical Design do its thing. Imaging and soudstaging became more focused. The smoothness of the sound was just about right, if tending towards a SLIGHTLY softer character. Never harsh with the MD power amp. Dynamics, often a ? mark on passive preamps. Not sure. When listening carefully for a loss in dynamic attack I found myself thinking to hard and forgetting all the other things in my system that were so right. If you listen to Motorhead and Mettalica a lot I suppose there is room for hesitation; otherwise forget it if you have a musical, quality, power amp. For about $140 the Luminous Axiom is a ridiculous bargain.

Needed an attenuator to bring down the line level signal before passing it to a Velodyne sub and back to a NAD power amp, the separate level controls and particularly the stepped digital one on the sub had been driving me crazy. Almost nobody buying mass market stuff does this but this sub has a good high pass feature where its Class D amp handles the bass and it passes above 80 Hz out lightening the load on my amp, good because I have 4 ohm speakers. Something interesting in the power amp manual I have, it says not to put the gain controls below the 10 o clock position if at all possible and particularly avoid below 9 o clock because the tracking between channels is poor there. You can't go wrong with this product for the $150 I paid.. I often wonder why so many glowing reviews of the $1000 + preamps I see on here. To somebody who has a power amplifier and isn't so much into the multichannel receivers which all the rage, don't want a digital processor, and is aware that some of the cheaper receivers may very well skimp on two channel only quality in the process, one doesn't need anything more than this product. A preamp can only colour the sound if someone has a power amp only and doesn't have any use for tone controls or balance controls, it's just a few more resistors or caps the signal has to pass through. I doubt the volume control circuit in most preamps is better than the Luminous Axiom even the ones that are over $1000, and the attentuation is probably done better in the Axiom than in the dual gain controls in my NAD 2600 which I may now change out as well. The Axiom uses a Noble pot which is used in shunt, ie. the signal doesn't pass directly through that pot. It's possible that the Alps Blue Velvet or DACT stepped attenuator are still better but I couldn't be bothered to do all the construction of the necessary box. I got the Holco resistor model, the Caddock vs. Holco resistors choice is a toss up to me, can't really be sure if the Caddocks are worth the extra $25 unless a double blind listening test is done which isn't possible, but still, a good deal. Before shipping Luminous will adjust the circuitry to do proper input impedance or output level matching with your other gear which is a very often neglected part of high end audio. There is no doubt in my mind that my rig sounds better than my dad's $1200 Denon receiver where my amp is at least 15 years old, but it could be his Energy speakers.

Micro dynamics, speed, dynamics...

It is small and your interconnects may make it tip. Only one input.

Audio has been my hobby for the last 23 years and I’ve had solid state as well as tube equipment. My current system consists of a McCormack DNA 0.5 amplifier, Creek P43r passive preamp, NAD C542 cd player and Monitor Audio RS6 speakers. First things first - I believe this system sounds amazing in my 24’ x 18’ room, each wall is a different texture and I have the speakers x feet from the back wall and x feet apart toed in slightly. Sound stage is wide and reasonably deep with excellent height. It has taken literally years of experimentation for me to finally feel my speaker placement is correct for my room (at least for now ;-)
I had heard about the Axiom preamp for quite a while but never seriously considered it as I figured if and when I upgraded from the Creek it would be a much more expensive upgrade than a $170.00 tiny passive preamp. I ordered it anyway along with a pair of the Lynx II interconnects for a $190.00 total. Well, long story short, it is simply fantastic! It’s clearer, cleaner, faster and much more dynamic than my trusty old Creek. I’ve read some reviews that state it removed a haze from the system and in this case I agree, it’s like I removed my speaker grills and tweeter screens (which I already have done) the highs are beautifully rendered with sparkling clear micro dynamics. At first I thought the low end was a little too aggressive but after extended listening I believe it’s just about right with just enough attack excellent control and no overhang. Low end is powerful though and my RS6’s only have 6.5 woofers. Keep this in mind if your system is already bass heavy.
All in all I am very pleased with this little wonder and if you are considering a preamp upgrade don’t overlook the little Axiom for as long as I did. Music has become even more enjoyable.

Similar Products Used:

McCormack TLC-1
Creek P43r

No loss of detail, custom built to one's "specs", no loss of transparency or dynamics
Good parts

I guess the one input could be considered a weakness, but they are built that way
so that should not be a surprise

I recently purchased a Luminous Audio Axiom to install between my CDP and integrated amp. My integrated amp has a stepped attenuator, and hence, I often "miss" the correct position for the volume for a particular piece of music. For those of you experienced with stepped attenuators / volume controls, you know what I mean.

The Axiom solved all that, and very well I might add. This little passive preamp is a bargain, even if it cost 3X as much. I had mine built with the Caddock resistor,a $25 upgrade and though I have not heard the Axiom with the basic Holco, the $25 is really nothing to pay.Since I have used the Axiom, I have noticed absolutley no loss of dynamics, nor loss of bass, or a shrinking of the sound, nothing like that at all! I have used other passives in the past, and none have been anywhere as good as the Axiom, unless I was willing to wade into the $3K -$4K pond to get one.

I will not reiterate what others have already stated. Just take it that the Axiom is a fine piece, a true treasure at the asking price, and one of the best values one will ever find in the hign end.

Customer Service

Tim does an excellent job of answering e-mails, notifying you of shipping, and making sure that he builds the correct preamp for you. Shipping was fast, and he has an informative website

Similar Products Used:

Mod Squad Deluxe
First Sound

Value. Transparent sound.

one input, but so designed--and for affordability.

Haveto agree with other reviewers here. Clean, transparent. Alloes what's downstream to come through. Luminous is a great site to deal with. For the price new, you cannot go wrong with this. I have the upgraded unit.

Similar Products Used:

Angstrom 2000, Monarchy 18b

does not add or seem to take anything away.

cant think of any.

Fitted it into a cd player only system (ah tjoeb) then feeding a single monarchy audio power amp and triangle speakers and the total sound is absolutely fantastic. It allows the other components to do what they do and takes nothing away from any of them. Comes highly recommended as does the service from luminous audio.

Similar Products Used:

expensive active preamps

transparent, neutral, good soundstage.

only one input (not really a "weakness" as it is designed to be minimal and tiny ...)

excellent little preamp - no power, just input output and a pot. the luminous audio axiom may be the best bargain in the audiophile world. i found it to have none of the drawbacks i've experienced w/ other passives (weak bass, dull dynamics). a great product.

Similar Products Used:

i've had many preamps - audible illusions mod 3, muse model one, also have an accuphase c-200.

Quality of sound

Single source only

I agree with the comments by Joe. In terms of sound quality this compares quite well with my Reference Line passive preamp that originally listed at $2,000.

When I have compared the two I really can't tell much of a difference. Sound quality and soundstage are excellent.

These are currently available from the manufacturer on ebay for about $105 - $110. If you can live with single source and no remote this is probably the best bargain of all time in an excellent sounding component. Also, nothing to break.

I would give this ten stars for value.

Similar Products Used:

Reference Line Preeminence Two passive preamp

This is the most transparent pre-amp (passive or not) I have heard for under
2k. The unit weighs about a pound with a volume control knob and one set of input and output jacks. Sounds much better than the Creek!!!! But if you want a remote control and multiple inputs (people who hate switching cables) then buy the Creek. If sound is the major issue then spend a whopping $169. Speak of bang for the buck!!!!!!