Innovation Built on Experience

David Berning has developed the most innovative tube audio circuits since the 60s. LTA has combined his circuit innovations with our control systems, continuous bias circuits, and relay-controlled stepped attenuators, in a package never before available.

Rich texture and tonality, 3D imaging, vacuum tube timbre and all the micro-detail appear out of thin air. Instrument separation and soundstage imaging are excellent.

Balanced all the way through.

Three Balanced Inputs and two Balanced Outputs are connected by four separate preamplifier sections, two per channel. A single output tube per section and single channel circuitry minimize crosstalk and optimizes music reproduction.

Paired with the Century Monoblocks or other high-quality balanced amplifiers, it completes an unbroken balanced signal path from source to speaker.

Continuous Tube Optimization

Biasing a tube moves the tube operating window into the optimal operating position. Some amps require manual biasing. Others bias on startup. The Century Preamplifier continuously monitors and adjusts the bias so the tube operating window is always perfect.

Tubes that last. Protection that watches.

Curated, new-old-stock (NOS) triode tubes run in the ZOTL output stage, so they stay cool and live long. A 10,000-hour service life is expected, and routine tube replacement should not be required under normal use.

Innovative protection circuitry continuously monitors to protect your preamp and the connected components, to instantly activate in the event of a tube or power failure.

Volume, one resistor at a time.

Two remote-controlled resistor-ladder attenuators per channel, with 100 to 199 steps, replace the conventional potentiometer. Every step is a discrete, precisely valued resistor divider. The source sees a resistor, in series with a wire.

Channels track together with low crosstalk at any volume level. 199 levels which can be down selected to 100 lowest, the middle 100, or the 100 highest. This allows having the most volume steps available depending on the other components in your system. You can also select all 199, but you might have to 30 steps before you hear anything. Low level volume control has very fine adjustment.

This provides a balance control without mixing channels. Volume level and balance settings are automatically saved individually for each input for the next power on.

Quiet By Construction

The audio board is low-loss ceramic with short signal paths, reducing parasitic capacitance, resistance and inductance between traces. The chassis and signal-carrying components are non-magnetic, removing the subtle distortion magnetic materials introduce. Internal and external Faraday screening isolates the most sensitive stages from interference. Signal to noise is 96 dB A-weighted at 2 Vrms.

ZOTL Output Stage

David Berning’s patented tube to output interface circuit called ZOTL (Zero-hysteresis Output Transformer-Less) operates the tubes at a fixed carrier frequency resulting in a much more accurate frequency response, while operating the tubes at higher voltages and at low current. This results in much larger voltage swings which allows for better dynamics. Utilizing what we call impedance converters instead of audio output transformers results in much less coloration and much more detail than tube preamplifier with output capacitors or transformers.

Handcrafted Excellence

Each Century preamplifier is hand-built in Maryland, using components selected for sonic purity and musicality. Non-magnetic resistors, hand-wound impedance converters, and short signal paths contribute to a stunningly realistic presentation. Voicing is refined through extensive component listening sessions. Tubes are hand-selected for best performance. The Century Preamplifier is a platform for tube quality. The better the tube, the better the sonic performance.

Modern Features For Today’s Listener

The Century Preamplifier builds upon Berning’s Pre One heritage, delivering lower noise, enhanced stability, and modern convenience. Features include remote control, two 12-volt trigger outputs, an external heater switch for 6J5 or 12J5 operation, Home Theater Mode to ease integration into your AV system, gain and balance adjustments for each input, Mono and Stereo modes, auto-biasing, global voltage compatibility (100-260 VAC), built-in protection circuits, and cool-running, long lasting tubes for long-term reliability.