MUSIC FIRST AUDIO Baby Reference
Preamplifiers
With the Baby Reference in an audio set up the power amplifier and speakers become easily a real limitation for the good sound: the Music First’s Baby Reference will not help you balance the system – be prepared that you’ll have to match the rest of your system to the Baby Reference as it is unmistakably a revelator.
Function and form
Music First Audio Baby Reference is a passive preamp - an attenuator - that reduces the output of a source component by up to -60dB in a mute mode. The internal topology is simple yet quite difficult to execute due to lots of wiring and precise soldering – it is basically a series of attenuation transformers (the wires inside are tapped to different section of an auto transformer’s winding, one for each channel made by Stevens & Billington). The volume knob switches between the wires and that is how the voltage level and output impedance changes – the lower the position of the volume knob, the lower impedance. There is a minimum signal loss in the device so consequently the Baby Reference does not have to add the so much gain as conventional preamps. Still, the voltage level of this ‘pass through’ may not be enough when the source is power shy.
‘British’ appearance can be made trendier by choosing the colour of the Baby Reference’s front panel - red, blue, white or black are the options. Other than that there two rotary knobs – volume and source selector. From rear there are 4x RCA inputs and 2x XLR inputs plus RCA and XLR outputs (two each). The grounding switch can help if hum is an issue. For the preamp is actually an attenuated wire there are no specifications except for dimensions: 88 x 250 x 260mm.
Bass management
Unlike some other reviewers I have never missed low bass with the Baby Reference. If the bass was recorded – like it is on Sade’s albums – it did not disappoint. The sheer weight of the lows was actually a bit surprising if I consider that the sound crawls through tiny wires inside the preamp and high end gurus keep telling us that one needs a fatty wire to convey the bass energy. Apparently not.
However, despite its weight, the bass of the Baby Reference left me craving for better articulation and attack. It had a bit softened edges which contributed to understated impression in this audio band.
Clarity & delicacy
Despite that the Music First’s preamplifier casts a subtle touch of golden light on the sound, it still comes as a winner in terms of its openness, tonal accuracy and overall transparency. No matter whether vocals were raspy (Joe Cocker), smooth (Vienna Teng) or almost whispered (Jacintha) I had an impression that the real people were in the room with me. The convincing presence was recreated also due to the preamp’s ability to unveil ambient cues in live recordings. When listening to synthesized music like Yello, the background ambience was dead silent – the blackest background I have ever experienced with any preamplifier.
Tonal accuracy
Throughout my auditioning the Baby Reference kept proving that it was really close to what was on recordings. In the temporal domain it exhibits perfect timing and speed with no smears or delays. Even my trusted Mark Levinson No. 326S sounded a bit ‘muffled’ comparing to the Music First. Also the Baby Reference’s microdynamics were finer than that of the ML which contributed a lot to the clarity of low level transients. Brush work on cymbals was a revelation as well as strumming an acoustic guitar. The ability to unmask the subtle instrumental variations and textures brings most orchestral recordings to life, however, in huge dynamic climaxes I missed a bit of ‘power’ and ‘explosiveness’ that I am used to.
Spatial resolution
There is nothing to discuss as far as the imaging is concerned. The Music First Baby Reference just does not shrink or expand the soundstage in the way other preamplifiers do. The bit loosened bass contributes to the sense of slightly bigger depth of recordings, yet this effect is subtler than e.g. changing the power cord of a power amplifier. To me the Baby Reference is a near invisible component that just decreases the volume when needed.
Advantages as I see them:
Baby Reference does not need electricity - no power cable or power conditioner is required. As the result it is compatible with any voltage standard (110-240V). No real audible difference between RCA and XLR. Leaves minimum imprint on sound, fantastic clarity and transparency.
Disadvantages as I see them:
No gain – you’d better check the voltage output of your source components and speakers’ sensitivity or test the Baby Reference in your system before you buy. Softens the bass a bit, lacks the absolute control of macrodynamics. There are only 23 discrete volume steps by 2dB which may be too rough scale for some listeners. No remote control.
Recommended resellers
HI-FI studio TYKON, Ostrava, tel. +420 723 449 894
Manufacturer's website: http://www.mfaudio.co.uk
Associated components
- Source components: C.E.C. TL51XR
- Amplifiers: Mark Levinson No. 432, Mark Levinson No.326S
- Interconnects and speaker cables: Kubala-Sosna Emotion, Blackwater Continuum NST2
- Loudspeakers: Revel Ultima Studio2
- Power conditioners: IsoTek Titan
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