I bought this unit brand new from Audio Advisor back in 1996. Other components have come and gone. I have upgraded speakers Stereophile "A" level, upgraded cables, amplification, etc., even added the Integra DTC 9.8, as the HT processor in my system. The DLC has continued to serve as my 2 channel pre-amp for high end listening, with addition of upgraded power supply. I appreciate it today even more than when I bought it. The fact that it has two identical pre-amp outputs makes it convenient to work into speaker set and HT system where I can integrate sub and other sources seamlessly. Fact I can have one input volume at a cost db for pass through to Integra for front mains is wonderful. I've brought home other pre-amps over the years to compare, and I still haven't found anything in the $1-2k range I like better for sound and convenience. I think this may be one of the best purchases I've ever made for value/performance/longevity. Hats off many years later to Audio Alchemy (Dusty and crew) for really creating a perfectly useful and high performing piece of gear.

2 Outputs plus the ability to adjust all the inputs so they are all matched. Remote control is certainly a plus for a pre-amp. Small and light enough to place anywhere or bring with you while you travel. Pure transparancy !!!

Out of production ! Difficulties with repairs. Only operable by the remote. The unit should have come with the PS 2,3 instead of the "wall-wart" power supply.

I've finally got around to commenting on this fine pre-amp. The A/A DLC came available on Ebay one day. I had heard quite a bit about it but decided to do a little research myself. I ended my research on the Stereophile site. From all accounts the unit was highly recommended so I bid and won the item. Here we are some 3-4 yrs. later and I'm still amazed at the units ability to just get out of the way of the sound. I incorporate Magnaplanar MG-llc's for speakers and have them presently bi-amped. The DLC offers 2 main outs which dramatically simplifies the bi-amp procedure. I can remember setting the unit up and allowing it to warm-up for about 45 minutes. My wife, who is one of the most realistic "audiophiles" I know, was the first to comment, "the soundstage depth is amazing". I agreed and also noticed what I thought was less bass, however, when the unit was presented with known "bassy" music, the quality of the bass was outstanding in it's ability to be multi-note, clearly delineated, incredibly fast and very powerful. After a couple of evening of listening I realized the, what I thought, lack of bass was in fact a lack of boominess or sluggishness brought about by slow and sloppy bass reproduction. I compared this unit to my Reference Line Preeminence One passive and found the A/A DLC to be holding it's own rather nicely. The DLC simply blew away my (modified) Sonic Frontiers SFL-1 hands down, even with the SFL-1 on the "direct" output. The A/A has the unique ability to disapear into a large, deep soundstage that reveals the venues the music was recorded in most accurately. The tonal quality was most impressive and the musicality was so enjoyable, it allowed for listening sessions late into the night with seemingly no listening fatigue what so ever. I most certainly could go on but I belive what is most important here is the price/performance ratio. Seeing I paid $250.00 US ($315.00 CAN), I can't even begin to imagine what is out there that can compete. Knowing full well the unit is entirely controlled by it's remote only, it is imperitive that you either attain a learning remote or absoulutel positively not drop or damage the original. Very highly recommended !!!

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Bryston BP-25, Melos SHA-1, AR LS-3 SFL-1, Reference Line.

Transparency, simplicity, GREAT sound!

Need a decent power supply & cables, replace hard rubber feet.

This is a terrific piece, outperforming preamps 5 or even 10 times its price. Transparent, neutral, good response across the audio spectrum. I've heard some folks say that the DLC is light on bass, but I haven't seen this: even on stuff like the Pure Audiophile pressing of Ray Brown's "Soular Energy" (which actually has a "dynamic bass may cause mistracking" warning on the outermost sleeve!) or "Intro" on Tupac Shakur's "Better Dayz" (I actually thought we were having an earthquake the first time I listened to this ;-), the bass response is excellent, clean and rhythmic. Other reviewers have mentioned the importance of a good power supply; I can't really comment on this, since mine came without a wall-wart (NIB, though -- wall-wart was scavenged to power some of the seller's other AA gear). I've only listened to mine powered by an MSB P1000 and it's great.

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B&K PT3 Adcom GFP-750 Luxman Marantz 1040A integrated amp

Small size easily mobile. Simple no mechanical controls. CHEAP pricing 150+ used. Remote is a thing of beauty solid pretty. Dual outs for bi-amping/or sut/sat configs. 4 inputs all with own level sets. Balance matching. easy to read from afar red LED display which goes dim in few seconds after volume adjust.

O.K. so it doesn't have tape loop or 6-8 inputs or 3-4 outs,or tone controls,remember it was built to the 500 dollar price point. Remote only option means don't lose damage or drop that sucker.

One really nice pre-amp/line stage,the Audio Alchemy DLC has provided all of the strengths read in the other reviews posted previous to this one. So I will just touch some bases in My fashion.Use this unit with an upgraded power supply(AA/PS2/3)and for a price that would sober up the kilo-buck audio- philiacs and make them tremble,you can show up at their bashes,and enjoy music magic in the making. Unit is very transparent,decently dynamic covers the full range,and images well in a nice sherical stage with front to back depth,wide and individual instrument lines intact. As another review stated get yourself a learning remote train it up,then remove the batteries the store the DLC original away in safety. I use mine in bi-amp with dual FPC,cont- inual cast pure copper RCA's,run thruogh a pair of Adcom GFA5500™.Sourced by an NAD502™ cd player,through to a pair of Sony SSM7™ 3 ways,I get magic after the DLC™ identified some of their weaknesses which I addressed. I have run it the processor loop of a Adcom GFP565™ as well,but this caused some additional veiling. Again I can't stress that this was one of the audio jewels which came and went way to quickly. FIND ONE BUY IT KEEP IT ALWAYS IT WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH UTMOST VALUE. Most of what was said in previous pieces I concur with high value rating w/slighly less overall.

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Have heard many budget line stages/pre-amps but mostly only have full pre-amps in other systems.

No switches in signal path; programability; upgradable power supplies; two pairs of outputs; space efficiant; built like a tank; no front pannel controls; dimable, cnacelable level LEDs; gold RCAs; all digital control (not just readout

No company to directly support it

Not to be confused with a mere digital readout, this preamp atennuates the audio signal in the true digital domain. No front panel controls means no switches for signal degredation such as bass or treble. Balance is handled digitally by offset attenuation scaling. Input switching is handled internally (remote controlled). Two sets of line pre-outs which make it handy for running one set to main amps, while other set runs a sub etc. 4 sets of inputs. It takes up 1/4 the shelf space of even the smallest analog preamps. The fellow who reviewed it towards the bottom of this page noted one very important thing: the PS-2. This was AA's best power supply offered. It enhances the bass performance 100% over the the power supply that comes with it. It also has outputs for powering three (all together) AA devices with supplied cords. To use the DLC without a PS-2 is not giving it a fair shot.
The DLC from what I can tell is as transparant as can be. It is as straightforward a device as you can get, and for the money...show me something better with more attractive features and I'll buy two. As far as service goes, I think Dusty (now at another company) would be glad to provide service for any problems. If he doesn't, that's not saying much for his customer service orientation for securing satisfaction towards his new company. Besides, the DLC, like all AA products were built like tanks, no moving parts and a minimal set od electronics anyway. Yes some had documented toubles, but both my brother and I have had DLC's in service since '95 or '96 without so much as one sigle problem...except remote battery replacement, whoopie! At the time of writing this, there is/was one for sale on this very site for $130!!! Thats pretty common, though the DLCs themselves aren't, if you see one, you are quite simply foolish not to grab it up. I gave it 5 stars for value because I couldn't give it 6, and 4 for overall onlu due to the fact that if you want it to perform to it's maximum potential you must get the PS-2. I feel that any company should offer their products stadard with maximum operating potentials...save for modifications internally.

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DDE v1.0/3.0; DTI+

Completely transparent sound. Like not having a preamp.

Remote buttons stick or something, and no way to control without the remote.

I have a lot of preamps, and have enough hifi gear to have a different system in every room of the house. I am very picky about preamps, because they amplify the low-level so many times over they can make or break your sound if they have any coloration at all. Much more critical than power amps, IMHO. I use the DLC in my bedroom system, which is to me my most critical listening environment. I typically don't play really loud in there, but I want to hear everything... every nuance of every instrument with great detail and depth with precise imaging. The DLC definitely does that. I sometimes run with no preamp, just CD straight to amp. The DLC is as close to that as I've ever heard (or, more accurately, not heard). Just switching and really clean, quiet gain. I currently use the DLC with a Marchand amp (another true bargain) and old Polk Monitor 10's, but the configuration changes reasonably often. Completely opposite end of the spectrum from my old tube preamps, which I like, but they definitely change the sound. I'm glad I read Audiophile's review of this. A truly amazing bargain.

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Used lots of preamps; currently have McIntosh, Marantz, old Fisher, Altec, & Telectro tube preamps, some homebrew, etc.

Affordable and pre-amp normally don't go together. It's rare to find a decent pre-amp that is under $800. This is a true diamond in the rough. It's a damn shame what happened to this excellent company. The DLC is a line-stage pre-amp with four inputs and two outputs. Designed to be expandable it has a port in the back to accomadate a tape loop, headphone amp, video controller, and others. Sonically, it is nothing short of breath taking. It does not interfere with the music at all. Without a beefed up power supply the bass was a bit lean and the gain stages a bit crude. I upgraded the power supply to a PS 2 and have never looked back. Transparent would be the right word that descibes the DLC the best. It simply disappears. All this with the convience of a remote control. The only draw-back is the lack of balanced inputs. Oh well, for $250 I couldn't have gotten anything better. I strongly believe(with the exception of MC Mirco Line Drive) that I couldn't have done better for under $1000.

Flexibility, cosmetics, very cool remote (heavy metal construction), build quality, PRICE!!

Stock power supply, no balanced connectors, no controls on the unit itself

For the price this is an excellent piece. It has the build quality (but not size) of my classe pre-amp with more modern technology and a better remote. I have used it for quite a while in my sedond system (the first being well past the $10,000 mark) and I have enjoyed it immensly. It has a very complicated gainstage that combines the advantages of passive and active gain so you get the best of both worlds (like Adcoms new $1400 pre-amp except you don't have to flip a switch between passive and active, it's automatic). The sound is very nuetral, working to bring out the greater qualities in your amps. With tubes it's laid back and smooth, but with solid state it draws you into the presentation. I would recommend copper cables for this piece, however, as silver sounds a bit brash. (Silver cables will cost quite a bit more than the DLC anyway)

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Classe CP-60, ET Foreplay, PSE Studio SL, Naim NAC-72K

Tough and reliable! I don't know how many times I have dropped the remote,it takes abuse! the worst thing that happens is the buttons can stick:which you learn how to fix. The unit itself must be made of excellent parts,it has never failed to operate for me.I also have the power station 2, the best,lucky me.I have used it in my home theater system for years but now use it behind a stand alone mm phono stage and a older Knight receiver[just one of the many amplifiers that pass through my hands] I have not had any better quality preamps to compare it to,in my opinion it's a classic excellent product,don't hesitate to buy a used one! The digital readout in red is very visible,precise and and the readout in actual db's is a professional feature.It sounds very clean,clear;you can listen to it without fatigue. With the remote you can easily set balance and volume-it has lots of gain.

no tone controls

It's a good little preamp,buy it and keep it! I heard somewhere that it can be upgraded internally: anyone have any leads on this?

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different receivers

System: H/K 8300 CD player, Theta Cobalt DAC, Audio Alchemy DLC, Acurus A80 amp, NHT SuperOnes, Def. Tech. PF15TL, all cables Kimber PBJ or 4VS.
Since the last review was posted over a year ago, right about when AA went belly-up, it's with mixed feelings that I post this. "Diamond in the rough" gets it exactly right. The measured performance of the DLC is beyond fabulous for the price range -- only -1 dB at 200 kHz, and ruler flat below that. A S/N ratio in excess of 100 dB. Volume and balance controls with only 0.3 dB channel imbalance, worst-case. This is an OUTSTANDING unit. Unfortunately, the design sacrificed all but the most basic features to do this well -- it has just 4 inputs, 2 pairs of outputs (identical, non-switchable), and no tape loop or video switching. AA was planning on releasing such features as accessories to the base DLC, but only a few tape-loop units, and no video-switchers, were ever produced. So if you have needs beyond basic playback of 2 or 3 sources, you're better off looking elsewhere.

Another more serious caveat is that it has no front-panel controls. Everything
is handled by the remote. Since AA is no longer around, it is absolutely imperative that you buy a learning remote and archive the DLC's controls in case anything happens to your Remote Wand. Without the RW, the DLC is inoperable, and I don't know how you would get the remote repaired.

But the complaints about convenience miss the point. As conceived, the DLC is a minimalist preamp for the masses. It does absolutely transparent source switching and gain, is built to last basically forever, and has a faceplate which I would describe as beautifully sparse. While the remote must be handled with care because of the reason I gave above, it must also be pointed out that that was a deliberate design decision which made the signal path switch-free. If the fact that the company is gone doesn't bother you, and you appreciate good design, well-executed, the DLC is a gem you'll love for a long time.