Read More Audiophile Stereo Preamps Reviewed
Allnic L-7000 Stereo Preamp Reviewed
Allnic Audio is a high-end audio equipment manufacturer specializing in vacuum-tube electronics and analog audio components for audiophiles. Allnic has a broad product family, consisting of preamplifiers, power amplifiers, integrated amplifiers, analog components (phonostages, step up transformers, and moving coil cartridges), one DAC, headphone amps,… Read the Review »
QUAD 33 Stereo Preamplifier Reviewed
The interest in nostalgic products from the audiophile world has become quite the phenomenon in the last few years. One need only observe the unexpected resurgence of the previously all-but-dead vinyl format as a prime example. And recently, cassette tapes… Read the Review »
Mark Levinson No. 5206 Stereo Preamp Reviewed
One of the most transformational products ever launched during my audiophile career was the Mark Levinson No. 38 stereo preamp. It was released soon after I went to work for Christopher Hansen Ltd. in Beverly Hills back in 1993, and… Read the Review »
PS Audio PMG Signature Preamplifier Reviewed
Our verdict: The PS Audio PMG (Paul McGowan) Signature preamp is fully balanced, extremely quiet and one of the most transparent preamplifiers our reviewer has heard, thanks to designer Darren Myers’ work on noise and speed. At $8,999, it is… Read the Review »
Pass Labs XP-32 Preamplifier Reviewed
I have been aware of Nelson Pass and his work in the audiophile world for a very long time. In fact, it stretches all the way back to my high school years, before Pass Labs was even a thing. My… Read the Review »
NAD M66 BluOS Streaming DAC/Preamplifier Reviewed
The NAD Masters Series M66 Streaming DAC/preamplifier ($6,999 – buy at Crutchfield) is NAD’s flagship stereo preamp, offering features and connectivity well beyond NAD’s other preamplifiers and most audiophile components made by competitors. The NAD M66 earns its high-end credentials with its top-tier… Read the Review »
CH Precision L1/X1 Preamplifier Reviewed
If you’ve been to an audiophile show in recent years, there is little question you’ve seen CH Precision being used in some of the most exotic, ultra-high-end demo systems. With the collapse of so many of the A-list, blue-chip audiophile… Read the Review »
Parasound JC2BP Stereo Preamp Reviewed
Parasound was established in 1981 in the Northern California Bay Area, and has been respected by enthusiast audiophiles, as well as in the professional audio and video world, ever since. Their longtime founder, Richard Schram, recently sold the company to… Read the Review »
Infigo Audio Method 7 Stereo Preamplifier Reviewed
Infigo Audio is an exciting new player in the red-hot world of uber-high-end audiophile electronics. The Canada-based company has a long history in the audiophile industry, and it is coming to market with a full suite of electronics and cables… Read the Review »
Vincent Audio SA-T7 Preamplifier Reviewed
I have enjoyed tubed audiophile preamplifiers for decades, but had never spent any time with gear from Vincent Audio until just recently, when my publisher asked me if I would be interested in reviewing a tubed preamplifier from Vincent Audio. I quickly… Read the Review »
McIntosh C2800 Tube Preamplifier/DAC Reviewed
Not many of us saw Bose buying McIntosh and Sonus faber (read about it here), but that recently happened, with the pundits saying it was a way for Bose to get further into the automotive space. That’s all well and good, but… Read the Review »
Schiit Saga 2 Stereo Preamplifier Reviewed
Schiit Audio has long been a value leader in the world of audiophile equipment, known for offering high-quality gear at very approachable price points. Founded in 2010 by Jason Stoddard and Mike Moffat, the company quickly carved out a niche… Read the Review »
Bryston BP-19 Stereo Preamplifier Reviewed
Bryston Ltd is a Canadian electronics firm that has been designing and manufacturing consumer and professional audio for the last 35 years, and is based out of the small town of Dwight, Ontario, here in Canada. In their 35 years, Bryston… Read the Review »
SPL Elector Stereo Preamp Reviewed
By the time that this stereo preamp review goes live, you will likely have seen that its close relative, the SPL Director MK2 DAC Preamp for $3,699 (read the review), has won our 2024 Gear We Love Component of the… Read the Review »
Benchmark Media LA4 Preamplifier Reviewed
Benchmark Media Systems made its reputation in both pro audio and audiophile circles by designing gear with extraordinarily low noise and distortion, and selling it at reasonable prices. When I reviewed Benchmark’s AHB2 stereo power amp (read my review), I was so… Read the Review »
Rotel Michi P5 Series 2 Preamplifier Reviewed
It is always exciting when a brand like Rotel sends you a component from their flagship lineup. Rotel, a blue-chip, value-based brand, is known for making quality audiophile-grade components. The P5 Series 2 from Rotel’s Michi line is a preamplifier… Read the Review »
SPL Director MK2 DAC/Preamp Reviewed
So I get a phone call from a fellow audiophile friend who is known for un-Earthing some of the more high performance and often value-oriented brands in the audiophile world and he’s ranting and raving. He recently found a German… Read the Review »
Boulder 812 DAC/Preamp Reviewed
Our verdict: The $9,250 Boulder 812 combines a DAC, preamp, streamer and headphone amp in a superbly built, smaller-than-standard chassis, delivering much of Boulder’s high-end know-how at a price some audiophiles can actually reach. Inputs are balanced XLR only, and… Read the Review »
PS Audio Stellar Gold Preamp Reviewed
Our verdict: The $3,995 PS Audio Stellar Gold is a fully balanced, tank-built stereo preamp from designer Darren Myers that delivers much of the performance you would expect from a $10,000 preamp. It is a traditional preamp with no DAC… Read the Review »
Adcom GFP-915 Stereo Preamplifier Reviewed
I recently had the opportunity to review Adcom’s latest update on the Nelson Pass-designed Class-AB $1,395 GFA-555ms power amplifier, and walked away quite impressed by its combination of ample and clean power, retro appeal and astonishing value. As is the story with… Read the Review »
FIIO R7 Stereo Preamplifier Reviewed
Let’s start with the fact that FIIO is a Chinese company. I’m not sure I’m ready to call the R7 Chi-Fi, however. I’m not sure we have an Oxford definition of the term Chi-Fi, but to me that term is… Read the Review »
Pass Labs XP-22 Stereo Preamp Reviewed
Nelson Pass’ name is on the front door of Pass Labs and for good reason. He is very possibly the most important amplifier designer to walk the Earth. Here’s something that not every audiophile knows but is true, though: Nelson… Read the Review »
Boulder 1110 Preamplifier Reviewed
It has become a somewhat common trend to try and eliminate a stereo preamp, particularly in digital-only systems. Connecting an amplifier directly to an audiophile DAC, to some, saves money on component costs, cable costs, and, theoretically, provides a shorter… Read the Review »
Classé Delta PRE Stereo Preamp Reviewed
Classé is one of the most respected electronics brands in the audiophile world, but the last handful of years have been a bit tumultuous for the company. They’ve been spun-off, sold, and re-sold. Their current owners are thankfully Masimo Consumer,… Read the Review »
AGD Productions Alto Stereo Preamplifier Reviewed
It is no secret that we at Future Audiophile are fans of GaN technology and have a great deal of respect for AGD Productions for getting on the bleeding edge of this technology. I was so thrilled by AGD Productions… Read the Review »
Amped America AAP-1 Stereo Preamplifier Reviewed
We’ve been pretty psyched here at Future Audiophile about Amped America’s presence on the audiophile astral plain. What’s not to love? The company’s affordable Class D amplifiers like the AMP 2400 utilize the same core technologies as amplifiers costing six times… Read the Review »
Pass Labs XP-12 Preamplifier Reviewed
While Pass Labs bares founder and chief designer Nelson Pass’ name, his business partner, Wayne Colburn, is responsible for the company’s elaborate line-level preamplifier designs. First, let’s clarify the terminology: this type of component is often called an audiophile stereo … Read the Review »
Topping A90 Discrete Preamplifier/Headphone Amp Reviewed
The Topping A90 Discrete ($599 buy at Amazon), while marketed principally as a headphone amplifier, ranks as one of the most ideal analog preamplifiers I’ve used. A couple of months back, I reviewed Topping’s Pre90 analog preamp. The A90 Discrete… Read the Review »
Schiit Saga+ Preamplifier Reviewed
Some folks prefer a tube-based preamplifier in their audio system while others prefer a solid-state preamplifier. By tube-based, I mean an audiophile preamplifier which uses a vacuum tube as its principal gain device. In contrast, a passive preamplifier attenuates the… Read the Review »
Parasound Halo P 6 Preamplifier Reviewed
Parasound has been offering high-value audiophile gear for three generations now, including many higher-end products designed by legendary consultant John Curl. Today, they offer a broad range of products, including some revered integrated amplifiers, but if you’re looking to move beyond… Read the Review »
Anthem STR Stereo Preamplifier Reviewed
Like many of you, I don’t have a perfect listening room, so having room correction built into a preamplifier can be a game changer. The Anthem STR preamplifier (buy at Crutchfield) has Anthem’s ARC GENESIS room correction, bass management for… Read the Review »
Bricasti Design M20 Stereo Preamplifier Reviewed
Given that many of today’s audiophile DACs, phono stages, and even many modern audiophile amplifiers have their own internal volume controls, it may not be clear why you would ever want to integrate a preamplifier into your modern audiophile music… Read the Review »
Trinnov Amethyst Stereo Preamplifier Reviewed
Our verdict: The $11,000 Trinnov Amethyst is a stereo preamp built around Trinnov’s Room Optimizer room correction, with an active crossover option, so you can measure and fix how your system performs in your room in about an hour. Purists… Read the Review »
Mark Levinson No. 326S Stereo Preamplifier Reviewed
Mark Levinson is a name synonymous with high-end luxury audio components for your home, as well as upmarket Lexus automobiles. The company’s long history dates back to 1972, when they released the first ultra-high-performance preamplifier, the JC-1. Since then, Mark… Read the Review »
Topping Pre90 Stereo Preamplifier Reviewed
Every audio system has a preamplifier somewhere in the signal chain. In an all-digital system, the digital audio converter often includes a volume control, which is in essence a single-source preamplifier. In analog systems, the preamplifier is usually a freestanding… Read the Review »
T+A P 3100 HV Preamplifier Reviewed
The T+A P 3100 HV audiophile preamp is part of a family of components made by a manufacturer that’s something of a powerhouse in Europe, but only recently committed to increasing their footprint in the highly competitive U.S. market. And… Read the Review »
Schiit Freya S Stereo Preamplifier Reviewed
Those who know Schiit Audio tend to love them. Putting aside a design legacy that dates back many decades, no audiophile company has a better sense of humor. From outright goofy product names to funny ads to uniquely crafted, very-high-value… Read the Review »
All 38 Audiophile Stereo Preamps Reviewed
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Audiophile Stereo Preamp Comparison Chart
Every stereo preamp we have reviewed, sorted by price from low to high. Prices are as reviewed. Click any model to read the full review.
| Stereo Preamp | Price at review | Tubes | Built-in DAC | Phono | Room correction | HDMI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schiit Saga 2 | $279 | No | No | No | No | No |
| Schiit Saga+ | $399 | Hybrid (tube buffer) | No | No | No | No |
| Topping A90 Discrete | $599 | No | No | No | No | No |
| Topping Pre90 | $599 | No | No | No | No | No |
| Schiit Freya S | $599 | No | No | No | No | No |
| FiiO R7 | $699 | No | Yes, plus streaming | No | No | No |
| Adcom GFP-915 | $999 | No | Yes | MM/MC | No | No |
| QUAD 33 | $1,599 | No | No | MM/MC | No | No |
| Onkyo ICON P-80 | $1,999 | No | Yes, plus streaming | MM/MC | Dirac Live | HDMI ARC |
| SPL Elector | $2,699 | No | No | No | No | No |
| Parasound Halo P 6 | $2,750 | No | Yes | MM/MC/MI | No | No |
| Amped America AAP-1 | $3,000 | No | Yes | MM/MC | No | No |
| Benchmark Media LA4 | $3,050 | No | No | No | No | No |
| Parasound JC 2 BP | $3,799 | No | No | No | No | No |
| PS Audio Stellar Gold | $3,995 | No | No | No | No | No |
| Vincent Audio SA-T7 | $3,999 | Hybrid | Yes | No | No | No |
| SPL Director MK2 | $4,110 | No | Yes | No | No | No |
| Anthem STR Preamplifier | $4,299 | No | Yes | MM/MC | Anthem ARC | No |
| AGD Productions Alto | $4,995 | No | No | MM/MC | No | No |
| Rotel Michi P5 Series 2 | $5,000 | No | Yes | MM/MC | No | No |
| Bryston BP-19 | $5,200 | No | No | Optional module | No | No |
| Pass Labs XP-12 | $6,100 | No | No | No | No | No |
| NAD M66 | $6,999 | No | Yes, plus BluOS streaming | MM/MC | Dirac Live | HDMI eARC |
| PS Audio PMG Signature | $8,999 | No | No | No | No | No |
| McIntosh C2800 | $9,000 | Yes | Yes | MM/MC | No | HDMI ARC |
| Boulder 812 | $9,250 | No | Yes, plus streaming | No | No | No |
| Classé Delta PRE | $9,999 | No | Yes | MM | No | Optional |
| Pass Labs XP-22 | $9,999 | No | No | No | No | No |
| Mark Levinson No. 326S | $10,000 | No | No | Optional | No | No |
| Mark Levinson No. 5206 | $11,000 | No | Yes | MM/MC | No | No |
| Trinnov Amethyst | $11,000 | No | Yes | Phono/line input | Trinnov | No |
| Bricasti Design M20 | $12,500 | No | No | No | No | No |
| Allnic L-7000 | $16,200 | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Infigo Audio Method 7 | $20,000 | No | No | MM/MC | No | No |
| Pass Labs XP-32 | $20,212 | No | No | No | No | No |
| T+A P 3100 HV | $23,500 | No | No | No | No | No |
| Boulder 1110 | $24,000 | No | No | No | No | No |
| CH Precision L1 | $34,000 | No | No | No | No | No |
The CH Precision L1 price is for the preamp alone; its optional X1 external power supply was $17,000 more at review.
More Preamps Reviewed in Other Categories
Some components do double duty as a preamp. Read our reviews of the TEAC UD-507, T+A DAC 200 and FiiO K9 Pro DAC/preamps in our DAC reviews. For turntables, see our phonostage reviews.
How We Review Audiophile Stereo Preamps
Preamps are some of the more desirable components to review, as they are physically pretty easy to deal with. You will want to test the different inputs, explore the gain structure (how loud it will get) and more, but stereo preamp reviews are fairly simple. One big challenge is isolating an internal DAC, which is close to impossible with most modern audiophile preamps.
As with power amps, the pro audio view of the “sound of a preamp” is that the best ones have no house sound: the better the preamp, the closer you get to the sound on the recording. Others disagree and want their audio components to add a flavor, which is common among tube enthusiasts. It is important to note that the best tube gear has very little “flavor” and much more of the sound that is on the recording.
Audiophile Stereo Preamp FAQ
What does a stereo preamp do?
A stereo preamp selects between your sources, such as a DAC, turntable or streamer, and controls the volume before the signal goes to your power amplifier. Many modern preamps also add a built-in DAC, a phonostage, HDMI ARC for TV sound, a headphone amp or digital room correction.
Do I need a preamp if my DAC has a volume control?
Not always. If you have a single digital source, a DAC with a good volume control can drive a power amp directly. A dedicated preamp makes more sense when you have several analog and digital sources, a turntable, or want the sound and flexibility of a high-end analog volume control. We dig into this in our article on whether you should consolidate your stereo preamp.
Should I buy a tube or solid-state preamp?
It comes down to taste and system matching. Solid-state preamps like the Pass Labs XP-32 and SPL Elector aim for no house sound at all. Tube preamps like the Allnic L-7000 and McIntosh C2800 are loved for their midrange, though the best ones add very little flavor. Tubes do need replacing over time.
Is room correction worth it in a stereo preamp?
For most listening rooms, yes. Room correction like Dirac Live (NAD M66, Onkyo ICON P-80), Anthem ARC and Trinnov tames bass peaks and nulls that no amount of expensive gear can fix on its own. Purists who want a fully analog signal path may skip it.
Does a stereo preamp need a phono stage?
Only if you play vinyl. Many preamps, like the NAD M66, Parasound Halo P 6 and QUAD 33, include one. Others, like the SPL Elector and Pass Labs XP-32, are line-level only, so you will want a separate phonostage.
THE BEST Audiophile Stereo Preamps Reviewed FROM THE GEAR WE LOVE AWARDS
