comparison – LHZ Preamps

Tone Capsule vs LHZ Preamp Comparison

We’ve finally posted our comparison between the Darkglass Tone Capsule and the LHZ preamp. This is NOT intended to show one preamp as better than the other. Instead, the goal is to help players understand the unique EQ, dynamics, and harmonic response of each circuit design to be able to make a more informed decision. We all struggle to decipher marketing jargon and the subjective opinions of other players, so we do these video with the intent of objectively showing…

TonePump vs LHZ Preamp Comparison

This is an in-depth technical analysis and audio comparison of the TonePump preamp and the LHZ Preamp intended to provide objective data to help players understand the differences in tone and feel that they experience when switching between these two preamps.

Legacy vs LHZ Preamps

We’ve had several users report that the new Legacy preamp is somehow slightly darker sounding than the Hazlabs on their NS2, and ask if the LHZ preamp would resolve that. One client shipped us their Legacy preamp so we could conduct testing to compare the Legacy to the LHZ.

OpAmp Comparison Results

In this video we’ll reveal the opamps that were used in the Blind Opamp Comparison video. This is a longish video, but it goes into a lot of the psychoacoustic challenges that make listening tests difficult (if not impossible) when the difference between the samples is small.

Blind Opamp Comparison

LHZ Preamps have transitioned from the vintage LF442CN opamps to new chips. The LF442CN has been out of production for many years, and Hazlabs have moved to modern surface-mount op-amps a few years ago, so it’s our time to turn the page as well! This video is a blind comparison between 3 opamps: the original LF442CN and two of the new opamps that have been selected as being sonically indistinguishable from the original. Although we are calling this a “blind”…

Archive

LHZ-01 or LHZ-02?

How do I choose? What is the difference between LHZ-01 and LHZ-01? UPDATE: Both the LHZ-01 and LHZ-02 have been retired. This page will remain online as a reference. Please visit the LHZ-04 page to learn about our flagship preamp! For most clients, the decision between the LHZ-01 and LHZ-02 centers around how comfortable they are soldering small wires to a circuit board. We recommend the LHZ-02 for users with limited soldering experience, or for installations where the components are…

Bass Comparison with the LHZ HazLabs preamp clone

I bought the LHZ-02 HazLabs preamp clone for my Spector NS-2A which I purchased in the 1990’s without the original pickups and HazLabs preamp. It had Seymour Duncan Basslines PJ pickups and preamp installed instead.

I’m loving this in my 5 LX and will be getting a second one for the intended NS-2A.

HazLabs vs LHZ

This month I’ve received an authentic HazLabs preamp and a KHaz preamp to used for circuit tracing to compare to the currently-shipping LHZ-01 and LHZ-02 bass preamps. I’m happy to report that the LHZ is a component-level match to the original Hazlabs preamp, with the only exception being that we use 100uF for the main power capacitor whereas the Haz uses a 33uF cap. (The power capacitor does not impact the audio circuitry: it is strictly to ensure steady 9-volt…

EMG BQC vs LHZ

This is a quick audio comparison of the direct output of a Spector® Rebop DLX 5 with a PJ pickup set (EMG 40P5 and EMG 40J) after switching from an EMG BQC preamp to the LHZ-01 HazLabs clone. Bass audio is recorded directly into a MOTU M4, with both samples with the Bass and Treble controls at maximum. No effects or processing was done to the bass audio.