First Sound was started in 1989 by Emmanuel Go. An avid audiophile, he undertook an overwhelming research and development program aimed at pursuing the limits of passive preamplifier design. The First Sound Reference Quality Passive Preamplifier was born. Now known as the epitome of passive design, the First Sound Passive Preamplifier, provided the launching pad for the Linestage I. The inherent success of the First Sound passive unit was due to the underlying philosophy that the purest possible signal equates to superior sound. This has been carried over into the Linestage I. The ensuing discussions will reveal the extraordinary amount of attention given to the design and execution of the Linestage I to adhere to this philosophy.

The Design Goals: With the success of the First Sound Passive Preamplifier, it came to attention that the passive preamplifier design was reaching a select group of audiophiles. Aiming at a broader group of the High-End community, it was decided that an active linestage would be needed to achieve this goal. The model Linestage I was born. It was an uphill battle from the very start as Linestage I had the daunting task of being compared to the First Sound Passive. Purity, Naturalness, Clarity are some of the attributes that arise in ones mind when experiencing the First Sound Passive. The Linestage I must equal this. To design an active linestage with the sound of a passive. This was the design goal and challenge. It has been met in the First Sound Linestage I.

Please visit the “Technical Information” section to see topics that will reveal the extraordinary amount of attention given to the design and execution of the Linestage I to adhere to this philosophy.