Now available with remote control for an additional $130! See.... https://www.ebay.com/itm/126048807150

Also, XLR and 3 input versions now available!!!!! Just ask for pricing on options!

We are also very excited to begin the new "free domestic shipping" concept on ebay.  This includes the lower 48 states. HOWEVER, please note that every axiom II shipped is custom designed for each system so please be patient. We typically ship within 2-3 days but parts inventory/workload may influence this from time to time!!!!! Please note this when comparing us to ebay's new policies, etc.  It is VERY important that you guys remember we must hear back from you with specs on your system before we can ship!!!!

The AXIOM II is made in America! 90% of most "new" passives are from China/Taiwan, etc. The Luminous Audio axiom is a major twist on the "standard" passive preamp. 95% of all commercially available passive preamps "allow" your precious audio signal to flow through its volume control. This is the most difficult area for your signal to pass w/o distortion and loss of clarity, etc. Our circuit employs one very high-quality 1% metal film fixed resistor in series with your power amp. The volume is adjusted by shunting your amp's input to ground via our volume control to ground and allowing the signal to flow into the amp by a "valve like" circuit. The clarity and detail offered by this type of circuit truly blows away all other passive solutions next to a 100% 1% resistor-based control (see our Walker-mod version). The new ALPS pots used in the new version have continuous smooth rotation in lieu of the steps on the older one. This provides considerably more control over the original Axiom. Part of what makes our passive so good is the lack of inputs. PLEASE NOTE......The standard Axiom unit has one pair of inputs and one pair of outputs. This is a very important part of why the Axiom destroys most any other preamp on the market. Most critical listening is done with cd's anyway, so why not shoot for the ultimate in clarity. The AXIOM is shipped with a Holco resistor unless buyer is willing to upgrade to the caddocks for $25 more. The CADDOCK TF020 resistors are the best in this circuit. I promise this preamp will outperform anything under $2,000 or your $ back!!!! I will email the buyer with a brief questionnaire about his/her system so we can make sure the gain is calibrated for him/her. The unit uses high-quality custom gold RCA inputs,Luminous 4/9's pure silver wire and a smooth Alps precision pot. See luminousaudio on the web for examples of our cables in addition to more info on the Axiom II. You can read a ton of reviews on audio asylum, etc. and again, our website has just been updated with MANY testimonials for the AXIOM.  The multi-input version and the XLR version is $349 retail as a single chassis unit now. We simply add $155 to the bid price for ebay buyers who wish to have the above options. Other options include the 1% metal film stepped volume control for $175 (rca) and $350 (xlr), a second set of outputs for $50, and burn-in for $35.

Have more than just a cd player....Well, after years of customer’s recommendations/requests, we have decided to offer a solution for those with multiple inputs. With the small chassis we were unable to add any more RCA jacks for this so we have elected to offer a mono version of the AXIOM. This will offer incredible channel separation as well as additional inputs. For those who are used to the awesome “switch less” version we are still incorporating a direct input on the new units. Two inputs are offered as well as the direct input. However, the new Axiom with multiple inputs may or may not offer three inputs in all systems.

PLEASE NOTE!!!! The price seen on the ad is for the standard single input Axiom II. Many, many cool ala carte' options are available and carefully listed below with all retail prices at the bottom to clear any confusion.

New news! NOW OFFERING PRE BURNED-IN AXIOMS for a $35 fee!!!! Have your AXIOM sound smooth and perfect right out of the box for a 3 day wait and $35. Bill has developed a means of quickly "cooking" your Axiom in a 3 day period to allow better sonics upon arrival. Just mention it to us when you get back upon the winning bid.

Please understand that our standard return policy cannot be applied to custom axioms. We have been forced to apply a 15% fee plus plus shipping to custom Axiom returns moving forward. Sorry! All Luminous Audio Axiom preamps will be shipped within 3 days or when available. We do our very best to ensure that all standard 1 in-1 out Axiom II and Axiom II signatures (1.2k, 2.5k ans 4.9 k units) will be available for shipping within 3-4 days. However, all custom orders (walker mod units, dual out. Multi-in, etc.),  will require and additional period of time dependent upon level of difficulty or current backlog. We trust you understand given the custom nature of the axiom II units. The standard shipping times found on the website, audiogon, ebay, etc. all fit within these guidelines. Thank you!

A SAMPLING OF OUR INCREDIBLE TESTIMONIALS (Many more can be found on our luminousaudio site;

Please see latest review here....

A couple of months back, I got a really sweet little passive from Tim Stinson over at Luminous Audio. Luminous makes a variety of interesting audiophile bits, including some cables, but look ’em up on The Google and you’ll find reference to their extremely budget-friendly Axiom preamplifier. Starting at $195, the Axiom is simplicity itself. You wire in an input, wire in to an output, and you’re done. No power. No fuss. No muss. No greasy aftertaste. In fact, let me underscore that last bit — assuming you have a low-Z output source and a high-Z amp, you’ll hear nothing from the Axiom. It’s not there. “Open window”? Umm. No. What window? There’s nothing to get in the way of the music. And this is exactly what a great passive preamp does — nothing at all.

I say this like you’ll “get it”. In case you didn’t, here’s the truth — most preamps s--k. And I mean that literally — they s--k the life out of your system. A cheap volume pot, an average-to-middling design, and all you get is a link in your audio chain that can and will introduce noise, destroy resolution, and most probably just screw everything up. I mean, not to put too fine a point on it or anything. Ahem.

But it’s true! A good preamp is a rarity. One that doesn’t color the sound, or alter the response, or steal detail or rob the life of your signal — at least to some extent — is something of a marvel. Which is weird, if you think about it. A preamp has two jobs — attenuate the volume from “unity” (all the way up) and switch between sources. Ideally, a good preamp will do the former in a sonically transparent way. If you’re lucky, it’ll also let you do both volume and source-switching from the comfort of your overstuffed chair. But every circuit, cap, transformer, resistor or switch in that signal path is, potentially, a sniper on the road to sonic nirvana. And improper, cheap, or simply bad grounding on a preamp can kill everything in the chain.

Which is why a lot of folks are going “DAC direct”.

With no preamp in the chain, there’s fewer components to mess with the sound quality of your system. Good thing, right? Well, sometimes. Most DACs are lousy preamps, despite their “superior” digital volume controls. The analog section on a preamp — a good one — really needs to be robust, and that’s something a cheap DAC doesn’t usually sport. And lets leave aside the question of value in doing attenuation in the digital domain.

Anyway, for folks with a significant investment in an analog rig, DAC-direct isn’t really a viable option. Sure, there are DACs that do encoding on the fly, but if you’re an analog guy, the very notion will probably make your skin crawl. So, no. Something else must be deployed. Release the flying monkeys!

Failing that, I’d like to suggest you try out a passive.

Not every passive is the same. In fact, Luminous Audio has four.

• Axiom II RCA version ($195)
• Axiom II XLR version ($299)
• Axiom II Multi input ($349)
• Axiom II “Walker Mod” ($499 RCA/$649 XLR)

The first three are pretty much of a piece — one input, one output, with an Alps Blue volume pot in the middle. Additional inputs and outputs can be added on, along with upgrading the Holco resistors to Caddocks. Things get a bit more interesting when you move to the Walker. The resistors are all Caddock by default and the Alps pot has been traded in on a “custom-made, silver-plated stepped switch based on 1% metal film resistors”. New footers, upgraded wiring and some top-notch RCA connectors from Vampire round out the offering.

This is, in essence, a volume control in a box.

I had a chance to use the Axiom II Walker with a couple of different amps, including a 1-point-something watt per channel Yamamoto A-08S stereo amp and a BorderPatrol SE300b tube amp, one of my favorite SETs on the market today. WyWires makes perfect cables (extremely low capacitance) for a passive-to-amp connection, so naturally I grabbed a fistful out of another rig and dragged them into active duty here.

What I heard? I heard $400 kick the living poop out of some very expensive gear.

Look, a passive isn’t for everybody. The complete lack of a remote control is annoying. Of course, I’m a lazy guy, so take that for what it’s worth. Hmpf. Anyway, you know what else is annoying? Grain. Good thing that’s totally lacking with the Axiom II Walker. Bass response, typically the problem with a passive preamp, was strong. Like, Darth Vader voice over “the Force is strong with this one” kind of strong. No issues there. The stepped attenuator was invisible and as far as I could tell, and with my super-low source impedance (the Accuphase has a 50-ohms output) and my ultra-low capacitance interconnects, the system’s sound quality suffered not a jot. Clean, clear, extended — and all with no power cord. As my daughter likes to say, “that’s so weird”.

Compared to my current reference preamplifier, a $1,995  STP-SE preamp (also a passive, but with a remote control), the sound playback was virtually indistinguishable. The main issue I had was ensuring proper gain — given that a passive has none, it’s all up to your amp/speaker pairing. If you’re amp’s gain is low (like the Yammy or the BP amps), then it’s up to your speaker. With the Volti's , and their 104dB sensitivity, this was a non-issue, but with my middling-sensitivity speakers, it became an issue fast. Pairing the Axiom with the First Watt J2 and lighting up a pair of Joseph Audio Pulsars, I had to crank the volume all the way over and then some. Not an issue in most “real world scenarios”, but just wanted to throw that out there — this passive, like every passive, isn’t a jack-of-all-trades. It has limitations, but working within them, you’re gonna be surprised how far $399 takes you. I was.

In fact, it was this sort of experience that led me to start exploring the whole passive thing. There are lots and lots of offerings out there, but for my money and based on what I’ve heard, the Luminous Audio Axiom II is an outstanding entry on the preamp field. They’re local, too — just down Virginia way. Local is good!

Anyway, I still can’t get over how much you get for how little you pay. This is the very definition of value all the way. Nice work.

 

Hi Tim, The Axiom sounds just as I had expected, which is to say, amazing! Music unveiled like never before, with very tight bass, transparent mids, and highs without limit. String bass and cymbals have far more detail and variety than I had ever realized. Overall, the sound is what I would call "modern", clean and accurate.

When I think about these big 25 pound boxes (including my Accuphase) that we use to "preamplify" the signal, it seems rather overkill, especially if you only have one or two sources. Your Axiom is a true wonder.

Thanks again, and be well, Robert

Got it today! I am slackjawed... amazed! Opened up the soundstage and defines the individual instruments... SUPERB PRODUCT! Thanks!!!

Tim, Axiom arrived today. Plugged it into $6000 worth of Naim NAP 135 monoblocks ( Naim, incidentally advise against using any form of passive preamp ) And it is really stunning. Quiet quiesant background ( no hum or hiss of any form ) Detailed and as far as I can hear ... excellent. I am impressed, well done. cheers dave

Hello Tim, I received the preamp in good condition on Friday and hooked it up that evening. Wow !! What a sound, it was marvelous to hear I could further increase everything one notch !! Definition, space, information, soundstage, transients, zero noise and especially more precision everywhere... How can you beat my "brand X" ??? I am VERY happy ! It seems that the Axiom lets more energy of medium to high frequencies go through. Very well done ! Thanks again for the unexpected satisfaction ;-)) Olivier

Tim, The Axiom is AMAZING!!!...Thanks! Bob

Tim, I received the unit yesterday and just hooked it up. It is a tremendous value! (but I guess that is no news to you!) It sounds even better since my preamp has been out for repairs for 6 weeks. Thanks Ron

Hi Tim, ...The product is fabulous and I will be leaving positive feedback on Audioreview if your product is listed there. I will definitely be spreading the word around here. Congratulations on a simple but great design. The Axiom is truly transparent and I have never heard my system sound so natural. You can quote me on this! I will never go back to active preamps. best regards Steve

Hi Tim, I received the Axiom Passive Preamp today in perfect condition. The Axiom sounds better than I expected. The bass is tight, mids are transparent and highs are clear without becoming abrasive. I guess the word I would use to define the sound using the Axiom would be “PURE”. Best audio purchase I’ve made in a long while. Thanks again, Tom

AXIOM II Retail Price schedule

Axiom II Standard (Holco version)-$195 (If you won the item below the buy-it-now $195, please take the difference and consider it your "discount" off of any version below. i.e. (example) .....winning bid was 188.50. Use the guide below and determine the actual retail (normal) price of an axiom II in the configuration you want. Then take a $ 6.5 discount from the total and make the adjustment during final payment. We can easily help with this before or during checkout. Just ask us!

Axiom II Signature (caddock version)-$220 (or simply add $25 to your ebay bid price. Get the idea?)
W/ add’l output add $35
Multi-in version add $155

XLR AXIOM II versions

Single input standard (holco) version-$299
Signature (caddock) version-$50
Add’l output $50
2 input version Add $150

WALKER MOD versions (caddock only)

Single in-$499
Multi-in $699
XLR-$649
Multi-in XLR-799
Add’l output $50 

Burn-in fee for all above $35 fee

Remote walkers now avail for approximately $350 more than standard Walkers.