Transformer based volume controls have been around for years, however, they are usually put into plain boxes with no visual appeal. When I started experimenting with S&B TX102 I knew it was something special and I wanted to put it into chassis like nothing else before. One Sunday morning I was playing with some materials and the first version of this preamp materialized, looking like that:
![](https://audiosector.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/preT1-1.jpg)
I also tried black top version:
![](https://audiosector.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/preT1-2.jpg)
In that form, product was good for personal use, but not so as a commercial offering and when we started marketing it under AudioZone brand we needed something more refined. And that’s when the final version was created:
![](https://audiosector.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/preT1-3.jpg)
![](https://audiosector.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/preT1-4.jpg)
The chassis was machined from a slab of aluminum with transformers press fitted into it.
![](https://audiosector.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/preT1-5.jpg)
The preamp uses toggle switches for source selection and offers gain of 6dB.
![](https://audiosector.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/preT1-6.jpg)
![](https://audiosector.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/preT1-7.jpg)
For my personal use I also created a balanced version with top mounted rotary source selector and two toggle switches for phase selection.
![](https://audiosector.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/preT1-8.jpg)
![](https://audiosector.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/preT1-9.jpg)