Slipsik is our standalone reference quality moving magnet (MM) phono preamplifier.
Slipsik is a hand-built dual mono design with individually measured and selected components. It was first released in October 2006 and has been gradually improved ever since. Slipsik is housed in a very compact aluminium enclosure that occupies 57 mm in height, 103 mm in width and 190 mm in depth. A European, a British and a North American version is available.
Slipsik 5 received a rave review by the american HiFi magazine Stereophile in October 2011. They not only thought it was best in test, but also added it to their list of Recommended Components.
In February 2022, Slipsik 8 was released. In this latest version, sensitive signals are buried inside the circuit board, between multiple narrowly spaced layers of copper. The power cord inside Slipsik 8 is also screened with an insulated thin-walled solid copper tube, which is soldered to the chassis in both ends. This improves performance by preventing both mains hum and radio frequencies from reaching the circuits where the music travels.
In addition to the screening of mains power, the circuit board has once again been redesigned, this time using knowledge gained through the development of my dual mono MC pre amplifier SINGularity. The input circuit of Slipsik 8 has also been further trimmed to allow even finer details of the music pass through. The result is the best MM phono preamplifier I’ve ever made.
Slipsik 8 is only available in black and is housed in a slightly deeper, better looking and also better sounding case than versions 1 to 7. Every unit is built and tested in Sweden. And every unit is signed by the person who does the final trimming and listening test.
Slipsik 7.1 was very favorably tested in the July 2020 edition of the Norwegian HiFi magazine Stereo+. It was graded: Flexibility 9/10, Quality 9/10 and Sound value for money 9/10. Later it also received the award ‘Product of the year 2020’!
Slipsik 7.1 received a rave review in the February 2021 edition of Greek newspaper HIEND NEWS.
Version history
- Version 1.0
- Introduced in October 2006
- Version 2.0
- Introduced in March 2007
- Many passive components changed to high precision versions, new grounding, RF filtering added
- Sound improvement: Yes
- Other differences: None
- Previous models upgradable: Yes
- Version 3.0
- Introduced in December 2007
- 28 components exchanged, new feet, new dampning of enclosure, new tuning process
- Sound improvement: Yes
- Other differences: None
- Previous models upgradable: Yes
- Version 4.0
- Introduced in May 2008
- New output stages, new fuse
- Sound improvement: Yes
- Other differences: Ground switch added
- Previous models upgradable: Yes
- Version 4.2
- Introduced in January 2009
- New voltage regulation
- Sound improvement: Yes
- Other differences: None
- Previous models upgradable: No, only new Slipsiks were sold in this version
- Version 4.5
- Introduced in March 2009
- Power cord changed from Power One to Volex, new tuning process
- Sound improvement: Yes
- Other differences: None
- Previous models upgradable: No, only new Slipsiks were sold in this version
- Version 5.0
- Introduced in March 2010
- New and completely redesigned model
- Sound improvement: Yes
- Other differences: Available finishes black, silver and gloss white. Grey printing on front and back plates, previous machined fronts on special order only
- Previous models upgradable: Yes
- Version 5.1
- Introduced in November 2010
- Improved tuning of the circuits
- Sound improvement: Yes
- Other differences: None
- Previous models upgradable: Yes
- Version 6.0
- Introduced in January 2016
- New multi layer circuit board with various new components, internal screening of power cord and mechanical improvements
- Sound improvement: Yes
- Other differences: Available finish is black only. Front logo and rear plate are laser marked instead of printed.
- Previous models upgradable: Yes
- Version 6.1
- Introduced the 30th of April 2018
- The turntable ground screw is now lathed into a thin pin and connected to the central ground by direct soldering.
- Sound improvement: Yes
- Other differences: None
- Previous models upgradable: Yes
- Version 6.2
- Introduced the 16th of November 2018
- New internal screening of power cord, using a thin-walled solid copper tube.
- Sound improvement: Yes
- Other differences: None
- Previous models upgradable: No. Only one unit was made in this version.
- Version 7.0
- Introduced in February 2019
- New circuit board design and additional trimming of the input circuit.
- Sound improvement: Yes
- Other differences: None
- Previous models upgradable: Yes
- Version 7.1
- Introduced the 1st of February 2020
- Change of damping inside the case.
- Sound improvement: Yes
- Other differences: None
- Previous models upgradable: Yes
- Version 8.0
- Introduced the 1st of February 2022
- Change of case, tighter selection of main board components and new chassis ground.
- Sound improvement: Yes
- Other differences: Better looking exterior and finish
- Previous models upgradable: No, due to new case dimensions the new parts don’t fit the old case and vice versa.