Motherlode

About the Motherlode

The Aric Audio Motherlode Preamp, specifically the Motherlode II, is a premium tube preamplifier known for its superior sound quality and meticulous craftsmanship. It features a grounded cathode stage DC-coupled to a cathode follower, optimized to isolate the cathode from changes in load impedance, providing more 'swing' from the first stage. The preamp uses high-quality components such as 6SN7 or 6SL7 tubes, Vishay metal-film resistors, Miflex paper-in-oil capacitors, and Mogami signal wiring. It includes a Khozmo remote volume controller with a digital display and is built with a copper-lined solid wood chassis. The power supply is tube-rectified using a 5U4 tube and regulated with OD3 tubes, featuring a toroidal power transformer and three chokes. The preamp offers a gain range of 5-30 dB, depending on the tubes used and output level controller position, with a frequency response of 5-40,000 Hz +/-1 dB.