JAVA Double Shot – LDR Pre-Amplifier
Statement-level transparency with iconic JAVA design. The JAVA Double Shot LDR Pre-Amplifier is a reference passive line-level preamp built around advanced Light Dependent Resistor (LDR) volume control. With no conventional potentiometer or active gain stages in the signal path, it delivers exceptional clarity, channel matching and low noise, wrapped in a striking furniture-grade enclosure that transforms your preamplifier into a design object as well as a true high-end component.
- Fully passive LDR volume and input control for ultra-short, ultra-clean signal paths
- Multiple line-level inputs to accommodate DACs, phono stages, streamers and CD players
- Precision channel tracking and ultra-low noise for highly resolving systems
- Handcrafted JAVA chassis with distinctive coffee-inspired aesthetics
Product Overview
The JAVA Double Shot LDR Pre-Amplifier is designed for purist audiophiles who want their preamp to “disappear” sonically while offering the flexibility and convenience of a modern control centre. Volume and balance are handled by carefully matched Light Dependent Resistors instead of traditional pots or stepped attenuators. The control circuitry never touches the audio signal; it simply governs the LDR network, so your music flows through a purely analogue, ultra-linear path.
The Double Shot is positioned as a higher-spec evolution of JAVA’s Single Shot preamp concept, with enhanced connectivity and an even more luxurious physical presence. The signature JAVA styling—premium wood, sculpted metalwork and the coffee motif—makes it a focal point in any system, blending high-end audio engineering with interior-friendly industrial design.
Listening Experience
In a suitably matched system, the Double Shot LDR Pre-Amplifier provides a remarkably open, natural and effortlessly detailed listening experience. With no active gain devices or mechanical contacts in the signal path, the sound has a distinctive “see-through” quality: backgrounds are quiet, transients are clean, and low-level details emerge with ease.
Bass is taut and articulate, following the character of your power amplifier and loudspeakers without added thickness or blur. The midrange is lucid and finely textured, bringing out the nuance in vocals, strings and acoustic instruments. High frequencies are smooth, extended and free from the grain or glare that can be introduced by conventional volume pots. Imaging is precise, with a stable, three-dimensional soundstage that makes it easier to locate instruments and follow complex arrangements.
System Matching & Use Cases
As a passive LDR preamp, the Double Shot excels in systems where:
- Sources (DAC, phono stage, streamer) offer healthy line-level output
- The power amplifier has a high input impedance and reasonable sensitivity
- Interconnects between preamp and power amp are of good quality and modest length
In this context, the Double Shot behaves as an almost “invisible” control interface, letting the quality of your sources and power amp dictate the final sound. It’s ideal for:
- Minimalist two- or three-box systems that prioritise purity over complexity
- Digital-fronted rigs where a revealing, neutral preamp is essential
- High-resolution vinyl setups using a dedicated external phono stage
Control & Connectivity
The Double Shot LDR Pre-Amplifier combines purist audio design with practical everyday use:
- Multiple stereo RCA line inputs for DAC, phono stage, streamer, CD or other sources
- Stereo RCA output to power amplifier or active loudspeakers
- Front-panel controls for volume and input selection
- Remote control for volume, mute and input switching from the listening position
The low-voltage control electronics and power supply are physically and electrically isolated from the audio path, ensuring that convenience features do not compromise the LDR preamp’s transparency and noise performance.
Ideal Applications
- Reference two-channel systems built around high-quality DACs and phono stages
- Design-conscious listening rooms where the preamp must look as good as it sounds
- Upgrades from integrated amplifiers to separate pre/power combinations
- Systems where the owner wants to hear exactly what their sources and power amp can do, with minimal editorialising
Technical Specifications
- Type: Passive line-level LDR preamplifier
- Volume control: Light Dependent Resistor (LDR) network with electronic control, fully analogue signal path
- Inputs: Multiple stereo RCA line-level inputs (exact number depends on configuration)
- Output: 1 × stereo RCA line-level output to power amplifier or active speakers
- Input impedance: High, suitable for modern line-level sources
- Output impedance: Low enough for typical power amplifiers and short to moderate interconnect runs
- Gain: Passive attenuation (no active gain stage)
- Control: Front-panel controls and infrared remote for volume and source selection
- Power: Internal low-voltage supply for control circuitry only (no active devices in signal path)
- Chassis: Resonance-controlled enclosure with premium wood and metal finishes in the JAVA style
- Finish options: Various colour and wood combinations (model/edition dependent)
- Use case: Stereo hi-fi systems with line-level sources; requires external phono stage for turntables
Why Choose the JAVA Double Shot LDR Pre-Amplifier?
The JAVA Double Shot LDR Pre-Amplifier is a compelling choice for audiophiles who want true high-end transparency and distinctive design in a single component. By combining passive LDR attenuation, meticulous signal-path minimalism and a striking handcrafted enclosure, it becomes both the sonic and visual centrepiece of your system—letting the character of your recordings, sources and power amplifier shine through with minimal interference.
