Préamplificateur Phono Lehmann BLACK CUBE

As soon as it was introduced on the audio market in 1995, the Lehmann Audio Black Cube became a true legend for analogue playback lovers. Over the years, it has undergone a few modifications and upgrades…

Lehmann Audio Black Cube: features

In this new version, the Black Cube receives new input stages borrowed from the professional world.

Its components are similar to those used in the microphone preamplifiers of studio mixing consoles.

The RIAA equalisation and correction part is fully passive. It is made with MKT capacitors and high-precision, low-tolerance and low-noise metal film resistors.

The gain level and the load value are selected by moving jumpers with gold contacts.

Lehmann Audio Black Cube: test and listening

After a 10-day running-in (yes! that's long…), this little box delivers a reproduction of incredible musicality!

The transparency is superior to anything you can hear in this price range.

The presence of the musicians and instruments is surprising.

The bass is very physical and perfectly integrated. The midrange has an uncommon articulation with a great richness of timbre.

The soundstage is wide and deep with a lot of precision in the placement. It must be admitted that we do not get the impression of having in our hands (or rather in our ears!) a phono preamplifier costing less than €500!

It gives the advantage of being able to invest a little more in the cartridge, from which it is able to get the best. We paired it with very high-end references worth 4 to 5 times its price, and it did not fall short, quite the contrary!

For over 15 years, this Lehmann Audio Black Cube phono preamplifier has been considered a reference by music lovers and the specialist press, and this is likely to continue for many years to come, as it is fully justified…

What's more, it is upgradable, via the Lehmann Audio PWX power supply, into a Black Cube SE.

AWARDS:
On Top Audio - 2015

FAQ: Everything you need to know before buying the Lehmann Audio Black Cube phono preamplifier

How long has the Lehmann Audio Black Cube phono preamplifier been around, and has it changed much?

As soon as it was introduced on the audio market in 1995, the Lehmann Audio Black Cube became a real benchmark for analogue playback lovers. Over the years, it has undergone several modifications and upgrades, without ever losing the identity that made its initial success. In its current version, the Black Cube receives new input stages directly borrowed from the professional world, with components similar to those used in the microphone preamplifiers of studio mixing consoles. For over 15 years, this preamplifier has been considered a reference by music lovers and the specialist press, and this reputation seems set to last for many more years. You will find it in the phono preamplifiers section.

How is the RIAA correction achieved on the Lehmann Audio Black Cube?

The RIAA equalisation and correction part is fully passive on this preamplifier, unlike many competitors that use active correction. It is made with MKT capacitors and high-precision metal film resistors, chosen for their low tolerance and low noise. The gain level and the load value are selected by moving jumpers fitted with gold-plated contacts, guaranteeing a reliable connection over time. This fully passive approach contributes greatly to the transparency and musicality that the specialist press has praised since the product's beginnings.

Does the Black Cube require a running-in period, and how does it perform when listening?

After a fairly long running-in of around ten days, this little box delivers a reproduction of incredible musicality, far superior to what you would expect from its compact format. The transparency achieved is superior to anything you can hear in this price range, with a particularly surprising presence of the musicians and instruments. The bass is very physical and perfectly integrated, while the midrange stands out for its uncommon articulation and great richness of timbre. The soundstage is wide and deep, with a lot of precision in the placement of the sound elements, to the point that you easily forget you are dealing with a phono preamplifier costing less than 500 euros.

Can the Lehmann Audio Black Cube evolve with a high-end cartridge, and is it upgradable?

This preamplifier allows you to invest more in the phono cartridge, from which it is able to get the best thanks to the quality of its input stage. The testers paired it with very high-end references worth four to five times its price, without it falling short, quite the contrary. It also offers the advantage of being upgradable via the external Lehmann Audio PWX power supply, which transforms it into a Black Cube SE version to go even further in terms of performance. The Lehmann Audio Black Cube also received an On Top Audio award in 2015, confirming its place among the essential references in its category. Our guide on how to choose your phono preamplifier details these criteria.