"Quirky" But Way Cool Preamplifier
Antique Sound Lab calls its Wave Line preamp "quirky as they come." They've definitely got a point. You probably won't see another preamp with input and output connections on the top of the unit in full view. But you certainly won't hear another preamp that delivers true high-end performance at this low price. Add to that the rich analog sound of vacuum tubes, and the compact Wave quickly turns into a little slice of audiophile heaven.
The Wave Line preamp is designed to complement Antique Sound Lab's new Wave AV-25 vacuum tube monoblock power amplifier. But it will sound good with a variety of components, and with a tag this low, you can easily afford to experiment.
Back to the Future Technology
While the Wave draws on a classic audiophile vacuum tube design, a glance at the front panel encourage you to hitch its 12AU7 tube technology to the latest high-resolution A/V gear. Select from its four line inputs via its solid feeling selection knob, choosing CD, SACD, DVD, or MD. That's right, the Wave Line's frequency response of 20 Hz to 20 kHz at 1 volt and low distortion of less than 0.5% mean that you could and should partner it with today's demanding digital source equipment. The MD input, by the way, doubles as the AM/FM tuner input.
Point-to-point Wiring
The point-to-point wiring used throughout the Wave indicates the exceptional build quality. Few off-the-shelf parts made it into the design. Antique Sound Lab manufactures its own audio and power transformers. It also operates its own metal shop, powder-coating facility, and tube electronics assembly / testing group.
Internal components not manufactured by ASL are audiophile-quality all the way. Resistors, capacitors, switches, tubes, and other parts are carefully selected for the best performance for the price. | 
