In a high-end audio chain the Line Preamplifier is the heart of the system, the junction point between the different sources and the power amplifier. Its function is to select an input signal, adjust the amplitude, fit the impedance so as to drive at the best the Power Amplifier.
Probably is the most critical element in a hi-fi chain as it must implement all of these functions with the utmost transparency to preserve the sonic characteristics specific to each source.

After some years from Linestage presentation, the North Star Design decide to redesign its preamplification unit introducing on the market the Linestage SE.
The Linestage SE is the result of all our experience in analog design and represents the end point for those who wish to make a definitive choice in preamplification at an affordable price. Using a non-conventional circuit design and careful choice of components achieve sonic performance typical of hi-end unit.
But we see in detail what are the characteristics of Linestage SE.
The power section is based on two toroidal transformers and separate sections for analog circuits and digital control.
The inputs selection is made through high-quality relay controlled by a microcontroller logic that also presides over control of volume, mute and stand-by functions. The circuit can be splitted into three sections: buffer input, volume control, gain stage. The use of the input buffer allows each source whether tube or transistors to keep intact its peculiarities ensuring a perfect coupling.
The volume control is made by a motorized blue series ALPS used in many hi-end preamplifications.
The output stage is designed to allow the best coupling with any kind of power amplifier being able to drive long and capacitive cables.
We can also change the gain in step from 3 to 20 dB in order to better adapt to the different sensitivity of the systems power amplifiers-speakers. Both the buffer input and the output stage have a common structure, differentiated to adapt to different functions. Both are based on a double differential stage with N and P channel JFET followed by complementary bipolar stage in common base configuration, this configuration while having a lower gain compared to a common emitter stage is very linear in current amplification and allows you to drive the output bipolar transistors with the highest linearity. The lower overall gain and higher intrinsic linearity allow you to use a very low feedback factor factor, so you can have a limited distortion made only by low order harmonics keeping intact the harmonic structure of the more complex sounds.
The Linestage SE was engineered to be a long-lasting investment; in particular cards with the buffer and amplification circuits are removable for future updates allowing in this way to have a unit with the most modern technologies.

UPGRADE
For owners of previous version is available an upgrade kit that allows the update to the new version while keeping intact the money investment.