AUDIO RESEARCH SP14

Pre owned. In good condition. Shows minor signs of wear. Supplied with user manual, without original packaging.

The Audio Research SP14 is designed to embody the essence of true listening, where technology serves not as the protagonist but as a transparent conduit for the music itself. It is a preamplifier that perfectly reflects the philosophy of the brand—engineering precision, refined construction, and above all, a sound reproduction capable of touching the listener’s soul. Every detail is conceived to preserve the purity and depth of the musical message, transforming each listening session into a direct and emotional dialogue with the performance.

The SP14’s design immediately reveals its Audio Research heritage: clean lines, a brushed aluminum silver front panel, solid, perfectly aligned knobs, and clear, easy-to-read markings. The layout of the controls is rational and intuitive, ensuring effortless operation even in complex setups. 

Beneath its elegant exterior lies a design of remarkable sophistication. The SP14 is a hybrid preamplifier that combines the warmth and musicality of a 6DJ8 dual-triode vacuum tube with the precision and speed of FET circuitry. This blend, the result of years of technical refinement, produces a sound that is transparent, dynamic, and impeccably balanced. The all-FET line stage derives from the renowned SP15, while the phono section uses the tube in an intermediate gain configuration, offering outstanding performance even with demanding cartridges.

Its power supply is another highlight of the design. A shielded toroidal transformer, carefully positioned to avoid interference with sensitive circuits, works in tandem with an advanced electronic regulation system for both high and low voltages, ensuring silent operation, stability, and flawless current delivery. Build quality is quintessentially Audio Research: premium materials, immaculate soldering, and attention to detail evident in every control and connection.

From a functional standpoint, the SP14 provides total and flexible signal management. Separate gain and attenuation knobs allow precise optimization of system response according to source and amplifier pairing. The distinctive “Bypass” switch enables a direct connection between the selected source and amplification stage, excluding all non-essential circuitry for the purest, most transparent signal path.

Additional features include a stepped balance control, a mode selector offering stereo, mono, and channel-reverse options, and an independent recording section that allows simultaneous playback and recording from different sources. Dual main outputs facilitate bi-wiring, while rear-mounted AC outlets add everyday practicality. Every switch, lever, and LED indicator responds with precision, offering an intuitive and satisfying user experience.

In listening, the SP14 reveals its true character. Its sound blends transparency with warmth, detail with tonal coherence, presenting a wide, stable soundstage that restores music’s natural depth and dimension. Each note emerges effortlessly, each nuance finds its place, and each instrument retains its identity. The preamplifier disappears from the equation, leaving only the performance—the voice, breath, and intent of the artist.

The Audio Research SP14 is more than a preamplifier: it is a meeting point between engineering and artistry, between technical rigor and musical sensitivity. With its impeccable construction, intelligent ergonomics, and a sonic performance that sets new standards, it stands as one of the finest expressions of both analog and digital reproduction. A component designed not merely for listening, but for living music in its most authentic form.

Technical Specifications:

• Type: Hybrid stereo preamplifier (tube/FET)
• Inputs: 1 phono input; 6 line-level inputs; 2 tape loops
• Frequency response: 30Hz–40kHz ±0.3dB (RIAA phono); 5Hz–50kHz ±0.5dB (line)
• Total harmonic distortion: Less than 0.01% at 2V output
• Input impedance: 47kΩ with user-adjustable resistance and capacitance (600pF as supplied) for phono; 50kΩ for line
• Output impedance: 250Ω (main output); 1000Ω (tape output)
• Recommended load: 60k–100kΩ in parallel with 100pF (minimum 20kΩ, maximum 1000pF)
• Phono stage gain: 66dB (main output); 46dB (tape output)
• Phono sensitivity: 0.25mV at 1kHz for 0.5V output
• Line stage gain: 20dB (main output); 0dB (tape output)
• Line sensitivity: 50mV RMS at 1kHz for 0.5V output
• Output level: 2V RMS from 5Hz to 50kHz into 60kΩ; maximum 50V RMS (0.5% THD at 1kHz with 5V RMS high-level input into 100kΩ load)
• Phono overload: 200mV RMS at 1kHz; 1000mV RMS at 10kHz
• Maximum input level (line): 20V
• Noise: 98dB below 5V RMS output; greater than 100dB below 1V RMS input (line); 78dB below 1mV input (phono)
• Dimensions: 48.3 cm (W) × 26 cm (D) × 13.3 cm (H)
• Weight: 5.4 kg