I recently had the pleasure of spending the day at the 50,000 square foot Wilson Audio facility in Provo, Utah, about an hour south...
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Preamplifiers
YS Audio's Audio Experience A2-SE Balanced Preamp
Dick Olsher has posted a review of YS Audio’s budget-priced Audio Experience A2-SE balanced preamplifier ($1650). His conclusions are as follows: It should be clear by now that the Audio Experience A2-SE requires careful system matching for optimum performance. It can lock-in on a Goldilocks — just right tonal balance — or at the...
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Allnic Audio H-3000 Phono Stage
Marc Mickelson has posted a review of the Allnic Audio H-3000 phono stage ($10,900) at The Audio Beat. His conclusions: Audiophiles and members of the audio press alike can become easily smitten with novel solutions to supposed issues of sonic reproduction, believing that pure reason always leads to better musical reproduction. Products like the...
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Audio Research Anniversary Reference 40 Preamplifier
Jonathan Valin has just posted impressions of the Audio Research Anniversary Reference 400 preamplifier to his blog. Some highlights: The Anniversary Edition Reference preamp is fundamentally different-sounding—not just than the Reference 3 or 5 but than any preamp, tube or solid-state, I’ve heard. The Anniversary Edition Preamp is also more realistic than any preamp...
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Audio Research Reference 5 Preamplifier
Jonathan Valin has posted a review of the Audio Research Corporation Reference 5 linestage preamplifier ($12,000) at The Absolute Sound. His conclusions: To sum up, the Reference 5 is a lower-noise, higher-resolution, higher-energy, altogether more discerning preamp than the Reference 3. A great soundstager like all ARC Reference preamps, it now brings sterling neutrality,...
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VAC Renaissance Mk III Preamplifier
Garrett Hongo has posted a review of the VAC Renaissance Mk III preamplifier at Ultra Audio. His conclusions: Whether as a $9900 line stage or as an $11,900 full-function preamp — both luxury prices — the VAC Renaissance Mk.3 nevertheless provides great value in terms of superb quality of sound, exceptional build quality, and...
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Nagra VPS Phono Stage
Graham Abbott has published a review of the Nagra VPS Phono Stage at Soundstage! His conclusion: The VPS delivers what Nagra’s promotional literature describes as a “sumptuous” sound. If you like your records to sound like the analog recordings they are, with a rich, deep tonal palette and soundstaging that delivers the original recording...
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Lamm LL1 Signature Stereo Tube Preamplifier
John E. Johnson, Jr. has posted a not surprising rave review of the Lamm LL1 Signature preamplifier ($42,690) at Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity, along with a full suite of measurements. He concluded: I am not sure how to impart my true feelings about this product. It is difficult to do this...
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Lamm LL2.1 Preamplifier
John E. Johnson, Jr. has posted a review of the Lamm LL2.1 preamplifer ($5,990), along with a full suite of measurements, at Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity. His conclusions: In absolute terms, $6,000 for a preamplifier seems like a lot of money, and it is. But, I paid almost $3 for a...
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