top of page
CH Precision L1 Dual Monaural Line-Stage - Volume screen (front view)-Edit-Edit.jpg

L1 Line Preamplifier

Sonically Invisible, Musically Indispensable

Although many digital manufacturers now encourage connecting their devices directly to a power amplifier, bypassing a line preamplifier altogether, the pursuit of truly uncompromised performance tells a different story. For those assembling a system capable of revealing everything embedded in a recording—from tonal nuance and dynamic expression to bass extension and spatial resolution—there is no substitute for a world-class line preamplifier. It is the center of gravity in any high-performance system, the point at which signals are not just managed, but preserved, stabilized, and elevated. A great line preamplifier doesn’t draw attention to itself; it removes itself from the equation, allowing the music to emerge unimpeded. This is the role the CH Precision L1 Line Preamplifier was built to fulfill.

CH Precision L1 Dual Monaural Line-Stage - Volume screen (high angle)
CH Precision L1 Up Shot
Musical Truth by Design

Engineered to be both sonically and musically invisible, the L1 preserves the full integrity of every signal it encounters. Its discrete, balanced, dual-mono architecture—supported by an ultra-low noise floor and continuous DC-offset monitoring—delivers the transparency, stability, and dynamic authority that come only from uncompromised control of the signal path. What distinguishes the L1 is not what it adds, but what it never imposes. It anchors performances with composure, clarity, and unforced control, making it foundational rather than ancillary within a CH Precision system.

At its core, the L1 employs a rigorously executed dual-monaural design with fully independent left and right channels. Each of its eight selectable inputs—balanced XLR, single-ended RCA, and 75-ohm BNC—feeds a path optimized for low noise, wide bandwidth, and exceptional dynamic linearity. Whether driving long cable runs or multiple amplifiers, the L1 maintains unwavering stability, preserving musical timing, texture, and spatial coherence.

Its discrete, pure Class A circuitry maintains a fully symmetrical topology, allowing signal to pass without imprinting a sonic fingerprint. Switchable absolute phase and mono modes support system optimization, while the robust output stage ensures authoritative control in complex installations. Volume control is handled by a high-resolution, 20-bit R-2R ladder network built from precision-matched metal-film resistors. Offering 118 dB of usable range in 0.5 dB steps, this purely analog solution preserves resolution and tonal balance at any level—avoiding the losses and artifacts common to digital attenuators or IC-based schemes. Dedicated low-noise linear regulators with local shunt regulation supply the audio stages, ensuring ideal, interference-free operating conditions throughout the signal path

The X1 PSU Upgrade:
Elevated Power, Refined Performance

The L1 Line Preamplifier is built on a foundation of ultra-low-noise, fully discrete, and meticulously regulated linear power supplies. But even with this internal sophistication, there is no such thing as too much isolation from the noisy, RF-polluted environment of the AC mains. Adding the X1 External Power Supply introduces a further layer of voltage regulation, noise filtration, and mechanical decoupling—dramatically lowering the noise floor and stabilizing the DC supply with a precision that far exceeds what’s possible inside a single chassis.

For the L1, the result is nothing short of transformative. With the X1 in place, the line preamplifier exhibits even greater composure and control. Microdynamic shading becomes more nuanced, tonal textures take on new dimensionality, and spatial cues emerge with enhanced clarity and definition. Transient response sharpens, while musical flow becomes more effortless and fluid. The X1 doesn’t just enhance the L1’s performance—it reveals the full expressive potential of the system, allowing the listener to hear further into each recording with a sense of intimacy and realism that is unmistakably CH Precision. 

CH Precision X1 & L1
CH Precision Up Shot with X1
The Art of Intentional Progress

Like all CH Precision components, the L1 Line Preamplifier was designed not just for excellence today, but for continued relevance and refinement over time. Its modular architecture allows owners to evolve the system as their needs or ambitions grow—without ever departing from the platform’s core principles of precision, balance, and musical integrity.

The first step in that evolution is the transformation from dual-monaural to true monaural operation. By adding a second L1 enclosure, the left and right channels are physically and electrically separated into their own dedicated chassis—eliminating crosstalk and enhancing channel isolation to an extraordinary degree. The sonic benefits are immediate: improved image focus, greater dynamic freedom, and a heightened sense of dimensionality and flow.

For more complex systems, each enclosure can also be fitted with an optional second analog board, doubling the available inputs from 8 to 16. Whether accommodating multiple sources, fine-tuning for system symmetry, or simply pushing deeper into the performance envelope, the L1’s upgrade path offers a seamless route to refinement—without compromise, without obsolescence.

Document and Firmware Downloads

A resource built with the same precision and care that define our instruments, the CH Precision Downloads area provides access to the most recent manuals, firmware updates, spike installation guides, and product brochures. Each document reflects our engineering culture—meticulous in detail, exact in purpose, and designed to ensure that every component performs precisely as intended.

These materials are intended to support owners and partners in configuring, maintaining, and optimising their CH systems. Should you have any questions or require further assistance, we encourage you to contact your authorised CH Precision dealer or reach out directly through our Technical Support form. Our teams are committed to providing the same standard of excellence in service that we apply to our engineering—so that every listening experience remains true to the performance we envisioned.

International Press Honors

VuMetre Award
Editors Choice the absolute sound
Editors Choice the absolute sound
Editors Choice the absolute sound
EXCELLENCE_AWARD
HiFi_EditorsChoice_2020
haute-fidelite award
Editors Choice the absolute sound
P1_audio_beat_2018
L1 award
Editors Choice the absolute sound
Editors Choice the absolute sound
CH Precision L1 Dual Monaural Line-Stage - Rear
1-Series Products
The Heart of the 1-Series

The L1 Line Preamplifier is the central control point of CH Precision’s 1-Series system—a range that, apart from the 10-Series, represents the very summit of music reproduction performance. Designed with the same core principles of modularity, precision, and musical fidelity, the L1 anchors the system with authority, transparency, and a level of dynamic and tonal control that defines the state of the art.

What sets the L1 apart is not only its sonic neutrality and composure, but also its ability to convey the expressive nuance, dynamic expression, and emotional depth of a live performance. Whether operating in its standard dual-monaural configuration, expanded to true monaural chassis, or elevated further with the addition of the X1 External Power Supply, the L1 grows alongside your system—without ever needing to be replaced. Each upgrade step deepens resolution, enhances dynamic expression, expands soundstage articulation, and strengthens the emotional connection to the music, ensuring that the L1 remains not just relevant, but revelatory, for years to come.

Specifications

General

  • Type: Preamplifier

  • Upgrade path:

    • External power supply (X1)

    • Addition of a 2nd L1 for dual monaural operation

  • Color: Silver (standard), Anthracite or Champagne (option)

  • Dimensions: 440 x 440 x 133 mm (W x D x H)

  • Weight: 20kg

  • Operating conditions: 5°C<T<35°C, 5%<humidity<85% no condensation

  • Power supply: Selectable 100V, 115V or 230V AC, 47Hz to 63Hz

  • Power consumption: <0.5W standby, 55W nominal

 

User interface

  • Display: 800 x 480 pixels, 24 bit RGB AMOLED

  • Control: Dual concentric encoder with push function, Infrared remote control, Android app (iOS app to be released)

  • Firmware update: via USB flash drive or the Internet

 

Analog input

  • Type: 4x balanced XLR, 2x single-ended RCA, 2x single-ended BNC per channel

  • Impedance: 94kΩ or 600Ω (balanced), 47kΩ or 300Ω (single-ended)

  • Level: 16VRMS maximum (balanced), 8VRMS maximum (single-ended)

 

Analog Output

  • Type: 2x balanced XLR, 1x single-ended RCA, 1x single-ended BNC per channel

  • Level: 20VRMS maximum (balanced), 10VRMS maximum (single-ended)

  • Bandwidth: DC to >1MHz (-3dB), volume=0dB, 0dBu input signal

  • Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise: <0.001% (@ 22Hz-22kHz, A-weighted)

  • Signal-to-noise ratio: >136dB (@ 20Hz-20kHz, A-weighted)

  • Noise (volume=0dB, 27Ω input termination, 20Hz-20kHz, A-weighted):

    • <3.2μVRMS (on balanced output)

    • <2.4μVRMS (on single-ended output)

  • Volume control: -99.5dB to +18dB

bottom of page