T+A Elektroakustik P 3100 HV Preamplifier

A fully dual mono design with 4 x XLR and 6 x RCA (one optional phono) inputs, and a headphone out.

T+A approaches preamps as being the most important components of a high-end system. They are of discrete, fully symmetrical construction, and every single component is the very finest available. This is all housed in T+A’s famously uncompromising HV chassis.

A new, very complex circuit in the P 3100 HV compensates for the temperature coefficients of the transistors. Operating points can be set exactly, which means that the preamplifier stages have a pure DC coupling. There are no longer coupling capacitors in the signal path between the input stage, volume control and output stage.

The digital power supply is ample and heavily shielded. The analog toroidal transformer is enormous, and an amazing 115 VA.

HV Means High Voltage

The T+A HV series are so named because they run at an unusually high voltage internally. In the preamp, it’s 100 V, and in the power amp, 360 V, and this keeps the actual modulation of all the stages very low. This means that components can stay in their linear range even for high-bandwidth and highly dynamic musical signals, resulting in tremendous sonic improvements.

Dual Mono Construction

A peek at how apart the inputs are on the back panel, shows how far T+A takes its fully dual mono construction, keeping both identical channels completely separate. The circuit boards are housed in their own compartment made of thick-walled aluminum plates, and are completely separated and shielded from the mains unit and power supply in the bottom section of the case. The circuit topology is based on a differential cascode amplifier with hand-selected audio J-FET transistors.

All stages are of completely discrete construction without op-amps. Virtually no overall negative feedback is required. 

Specifications

Dimensions (HWD): 6.7″ x 18″ x 18″ (17 x 46 x 46 cm)

Weight: 61.7 lb (28 kg)