"a conduit to the sound of the master tape"

Perhaps once in a decade a product comes along that represents a breakthrough in any given category.  We like to think that the Granada Loudspeaker represents one such development, but the better a loudspeaker is, the more faithfully it delivers the signal it is fed, the more dependent it is on the equipment that drives it to reveal its full potential.  We have come to understand that in a system, every component matters, but in the search for the holy grail of high end performance, the preamplifier may be seen as occupying the preeminent position of "main driving force".  The influence of the preamplifier is central and dramatic.  Typically, the preamplifier acts as a filter that only grudgingly allows a small portion of the musical event to be released - in much the same way that the spillway of a dam only releases a trickle of the tremendous energy that is stored behind the dam's massive wall. One does not know one is missing the "real" event, until it is revealed in its true majesty and glory. Encountering it can be a life changing experience.

We had the opportunity to experience such an event in our own room at CES when Steve McCormack brought us his VRE-1 preamplifier to test during the show (see Jim Merod's overview of these events below). The VRE-1 brought our Granada based system to a level of resolution we had not previously encountered.  Because of the tremendous synergy between these two products, and because it makes every sense for The Lotus Group to participate in the promotion of the VRE-1 and future products that Steve McCormack intends to develop, we engaged in a dialogue with him about the possibility of our becoming involved.  As a result:

The Lotus Group is proud to announce that it has been granted the exclusive rights of worldwide distribution for the SMc VRE-1 Virtual Reality Engine Preamplifier - a direct conduit to the sound of the master tape.

What to expect from the VRE-1:

· Perfect, coherent clarity - seamless character top-to-bottom, with no region

emphasized or lacking, and no vagueness, muddiness, smearing, or veil

· Top-to-bottom transparency - that "see-through" quality that gives you the feeling of

looking out across the room or venue of the original recording

· Effortless dynamic expression - from the quietest passages to the loudest, the VRE-1

portrays all of the music's dynamic power and subtlety - from the thunderous strike of a drum

to the almost subliminal shift of a singer's breath

· Pinpoint focus and localization - instruments and voices are placed solidly within a 3-D sound field, their musical lines clearly individuated

· Emotional connection with the music - perhaps the most elusive and important quality

of all

· The ability to do all of the above at any volume level.

· Elegant simplicity of design and intuitive operation

· Beautiful non-resonant chassis - solid-surface technology contributes to performance

· Safe, reliable, low-voltage operation generates practically no heat

· Absolute reliability and stability. The VRE-1 will always be ready to deliver beautiful

music, whether it is new or many years old.

Features:

·          Circuit design combines the best aspects of active & passive performance

·          Discrete, wideband JFET circuit uses no feedback

·          Precision stepped-attenuator for accurate volume adjustment

·          Beautiful, heavy, non-resonant enclosure contributes to outstanding sonics

·          Balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA inputs and outputs 

·          Lundahl and Jensen coupling transformers enhance performance

·          No DC leakage, no ground loops, and no RFI issues

·          Completely stable and reliable

·          No heat, no noise, no ground loops, low voltage design

·          External choke-filtered power supply for superior sonic purity

·          Unrivaled transparency and neutrality; incredible dynamic expression

·          A true "window onto the performance."