WestminsterLab QUEST Pre-Amplifier 
Completely redefines what the preamplifier can do in your system
 
Reinventing The Wheel
The ultimate aim of the Quest is to create the perfect preamplifier to accompany the Rei and the cables lineup.
 
With the Quest, it completes the loom between your source and pair of speakers. Setting out to push the boundary, it redefines how a preamplifier can contribute to the system and the ability to extract every bit of potential from both the recorded music and the music reproduction system.
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During the inception of the project, we endlessly question the role of the preamplifier in an audio system, and constantly challenge whether a pre-amplifier is absolutely necessary in a system and what qualities the added stage can bring or may bring to the outcome. We begin with a fresh start to investigate the relationship between the source and the amplifier. Every section of the preamplifier has been looked at thoroughly to see how we can improve every single part and also what kind of synergy we can extract from them.
 
TRUE MINIMALIST APPROACH
Behind industrial and electronic design of the Quest echoes with the WestminsterLab tradition. Keeping unnecessary features and ornaments to the minimum and brings the purest musical and user experience to you.
 
No fancy colour display, UV meter or any distracting items. Prepare to rediscover your music.
 
Hybrid Grounding Technology
The overall ground design and grounding scheme can hold a significant impact to the overall performance of the system, especially for tiny signals like the Quest handles. Tremendous effort has been used to design the grounding of the Quest and we have developed a new grounding scheme - Hybrid Grounding. Hybrid Grounding allows users to switch between two grounding modes on the fly so as to configure their Quest specifically for their system and look at the grounding scheme as a whole.
 
Dual mono  full balanced design
For both Rei and UNUM amplifiers are full balanced design, it is obvious that WestminsterLab prefer balanced architecture and surely the Quest also features full balanced architecture. For the Quest we have taken this concept even further by using rarely adapted dual mono full balanced design.
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From the input selection relay, input circuitry, volume control all the way to the output driver circuitry, both left and right channels are completely isolated, bringing an exceptional channel separation to the Quest to preserve the finest and most delicate musical information.
 
64 steps precision volume control
Signal attenuation is one of the main functions of a typical preamplifier. There are many different ways to attenuate the signal - optical coupler, auto transformer, resistor ladder etc, and each of these solutions has their ups and downs and may heavily impact the behaviour and quality of the sound. 
 
After extensive listening test and lab analysis, we went with a shunt type stepped resistor network solution. The 4 channels of 64 steps precision resister network and ultra low noise relays have their own dedicated power regulator and power supply. We also keep the control logic as minimal as possible, an LED display with remote control function only. It further minimises any possibility of interference.
 
10 Separate power supplies rails
The power supply of the Quest provides the fundamentals to the extraordinary musical performance. With 10 separate power rails, they provide the highest possible separation between different channels and for different parts and modules within the unit, 
 
Different rails are designed specifically to the needs for different sections of the particular part due to the varied needs and conditions, ensuring ultra low noise performance to deliver the micro dynamics and details within the music. An extra and separate transformer and power supply are dedicated for non-audio section. On some parts 2-stage linear regulation is adapted to exert more control on the regulation for some ultra sensitive components within the Quest.
 
Compartmentation and Shielding
We have gone to the end of the world and taken extensive measures to protect the fragile signals going through the Quest. Many signal handling relays feature a soft start mechanism, sections within the unit are isolated and compartmented, making sure that the cross interference is minimised. For customers who want the best of the best, they can choose to purchase the extended carbon fibre option which adds another layer of carbon fibre shielding inside the unit.
 
Expandable Future
At the back of the unit, there are two slots where users can insert expansion modules in the future. These sockets are designed to provide flexibility to design modules to add more input functions to the unit. For now, there is a RCA input card, and in the future there may be a phono input card or even a digital input model.
 
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OPTIONAL EXTRAS:
 
• Extended Carbon Pack
Extra carbon fibre shielding for the input, output, volume, and power supply section of the Quest. Enhancing the background darkness, micro-details, texture and emotion of the music playback.
 
• Extended Connection Pack
This pack adds two additional remote trigger outputs for ease of operation. Compantible with the Rei / UNUM and most amplifiers on the market.
 
• RCA input
RCA input expansion card
 
• Phono Input
Phono (RCA) input expansion card (coming soon—express interest)