JAVA Single Shot LDR Pre-Amplifier
Ultra-transparent control with unique coffee-inspired design. The JAVA Single Shot LDR Pre-Amplifier is a passive line-level preamp using light-dependent resistor (LDR) technology for volume control. With no traditional potentiometer in the signal path, it delivers exceptional clarity, channel matching and low noise, wrapped in a distinctive, furniture-grade enclosure that stands out in any high-end system.
- Passive LDR volume control for outstanding transparency and channel balance
- Beautiful, handcrafted chassis with the signature JAVA “coffee” design language
- Multiple line-level inputs for your key sources (DAC, phono stage, streamer, CD)
- Remote-controlled volume and input selection for everyday convenience
Product Overview
The JAVA Single Shot LDR Pre-Amplifier is built for purist audiophiles who want the shortest, cleanest possible path between source and power amplifier. Instead of a traditional potentiometer, it uses precisely matched light-dependent resistors to attenuate the signal. The control electronics never sit in the audio path; they simply adjust the LDR network, so what you hear is your source and power amplifier, not the preamp.
The Single Shot sits at the entry point of the JAVA range but shares the same core design philosophy as the brand’s more advanced models: minimalist signal path, premium passive components and a strong focus on industrial design. The result is a preamplifier that looks as special as it sounds, making a visual statement on your rack rather than hiding in the background.
Listening Experience
In a well-matched system, the Single Shot offers a remarkably open, natural and unforced presentation. Because there is no active gain device in the signal path, the sound feels clean and “fast”, with excellent low-level detail and micro-dynamics.
Bass is tight and articulate, following the character of your power amplifier and speakers without adding extra warmth or thickness. The midrange is transparent and highly resolved, revealing fine textures in vocals and instruments while preserving musical flow. High frequencies are smooth and extended, with none of the grain or glare that can come from conventional volume controls. Imaging is precise and stable, with a strong sense of depth and air around instruments.
System Matching & Use Cases
As a passive preamp, the JAVA Single Shot is ideally suited to systems where:
- Your sources have healthy output levels (typical DACs and phono stages with line outputs)
- Your power amplifier has a reasonably high input sensitivity and impedance
- Interconnect runs between preamp and power amp are kept to sensible lengths and low capacitance
In such conditions, the Single Shot becomes almost sonically “invisible”, letting the quality of your DAC, phono stage, power amplifier and loudspeakers shine through. It’s perfect for:
- Pared-back two-box systems (source + JAVA + power amplifier)
- Vinyl and digital rigs where transparency is more important than added “flavour”
- Listening rooms where the preamp doubles as a piece of design furniture as much as a component
Control & Connectivity
The Single Shot is designed for everyday ease of use, not just audiophile minimalism:
- Multiple line-level RCA inputs for DAC, phono stage, streamer or CD player
- Stereo RCA output to power amplifier or active loudspeakers
- Remote control for volume adjustment and input selection from the listening seat
- Clearly labelled rear panel for simple, intuitive setup
Despite its passive nature, the internal control electronics and power supply are carefully isolated from the audio path, ensuring that convenience never compromises sound quality.
Ideal Applications
- High-resolution stereo systems where transparency and noise floor are critical
- Audiophile setups built around high-quality DACs and sensitive power amplifiers
- Design-led listening rooms where the component must look as good as it sounds
- Owners upgrading from integrated amplifiers to a separate pre/power combination
Technical Specifications
- Type: Passive line-level preamplifier using LDR (light-dependent resistor) volume control
- Volume control: Stepped LDR attenuation, electronically controlled, audio path fully analogue
- Inputs: Multiple stereo RCA line-level inputs (exact count depending on configuration)
- Outputs: 1 × stereo RCA line-level output to power amplifier or active speakers
- Input impedance: High, suitable for most modern line-level sources
- Output impedance: Low enough for typical power amplifiers and short to moderate interconnect runs
- Control: Infrared remote control and front-panel controls (volume, input selection)
- Power: Low-voltage internal supply for control circuitry only (no active devices in signal path)
- Enclosure: Rigid, resonance-controlled chassis with premium wood and metal finishes
- Finish options: Distinctive JAVA aesthetic in various wood/colour combinations (depending on version)
- Use: Designed for stereo hi-fi systems; not intended as a phono stage or headphone amp
Why Choose the JAVA Single Shot LDR Pre-Amplifier?
The JAVA Single Shot LDR Pre-Amplifier is a superb choice if you want maximum transparency, minimal signal coloration and a genuinely distinctive piece of audio design. Its passive LDR architecture, careful isolation of control electronics and beautifully crafted enclosure make it an ideal centerpiece for refined hi-fi systems where less really is more—letting your favourite recordings, and the rest of your system, speak for themselves.
