Trilogy 914 Preamplifier

The 914 is a fully balanced valve preamplifier, balanced from input to output. Six inputs are provided — three balanced XLR and three RCA — with one balanced and one RCA output per channel plus a tape send. Signal switching is handled by no fewer than 28 sputtered ruthenium Pickering relays.

Six 6H6П super tubes handle all gain duties. Three separate transformers serve the ancillary control electronics, the valve heaters and the high tension supplies, so the three do not interact. The 914 carries four shunt regulated power supplies: because a shunt regulator can sink as well as source current as the audio circuit demands, the voltage rail stays silent.

The firmware rewards exploration. The control menu is reached through the rotary encoder with enter and escape buttons, with the hierarchy arranged to keep commonly used commands close to hand. Display brightness, custom input labels, per-input gain trims, film mode, security bonding, sleep countdown, timed system switch-on over TASlink and remote operation are among the configurable options. Gain to the main outputs is 24 dB, frequency response runs 10 Hz to 150 kHz within half a decibel, and the preamplifier is phase correct. Trilogy pairs the 914 with the 994 mono power amplifiers, and hi-fi+ reviewed the two together in May 2025.

• Topology: fully balanced input to output; six 6H6П super tubes; four shunt regulated power supplies; three separate transformers
• Signal switching: 28 sputtered ruthenium Pickering relays
• Inputs: 3 pairs XLR 3-pin female (over 48 kohms); 3 pairs RCA phono sockets (over 24 kohms)
• Outputs: 1 pair XLR 3-pin male; 1 pair RCA; 1 pair RCA send (tape); 400 R output impedance
• Gain: 24 dB inputs to main output; 0 dB inputs to send
• Frequency response: 10 Hz – 150 kHz +/- 0.5 dB
• Phase: phase correct (non inverting)
• Power consumption: 55 W maximum
• Dimensions / weight: 465 x 370 x 115 mm / 12.4 kg