Audiophile Stereo Preamps Reviewed

Reviews of stereo preamps, preamplifiers that have DACs included, preamps with room correction, solid state preamps, tube preamps and more.

Audiophile Stereo Preamps Reviewed

The SPL Director MK2 stereo preamp and DAC is the latest affordable, high performance component from this studio-grade manufacturer

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 More »



More Audiophile Stereo Preamps Reviewed


The Boulder 812 DAC/Preamps is a major price breakthrough for the uber-high-end audio company.

Boulder 812 DAC/Preamp Reviewed

When I think of badass audiophile power amps, there are a few brands that pop into my head, but at the front of the list is Boulder. Before the CEDIA trade show (mostly for AV custom installers) this past fall… Read More »


The PS Audio Stellar Gold comes in silver and black (with a gold accent, of course).

PS Audio Stellar Gold Preamp Reviewed

A few months ago, I wrote about secret designers quietly making very high-value audiophile components. Seeking these products out is often worth the effort, as they tend to punch above their weight class. Darren Meyers is quite not an audiophile… Read More »


Adcom GFP-915 stereo preamp taking photos on Eric Forst's fireplace outside of Chicago

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 More »


FIIO R7 stereo preamp for $699 has a very out-of-the-box, tall form factor unlike many other audiophile components

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 More »


The Pass Labs XP-22 is the two-chassis stereo preamp priced at $9,999

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 More »


Boulder's 1110 stereo preamp stacked with the Boulder 1160 stereo power amp

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 More »


Classe Delta PRE Stereo Preamp reviewed

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 More »


Here is the AGD Productions Alto stereo preamp stacked on top of the no-heat, Class-A-sounding, matching Tempo GaN power amp

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 More »


AMPED America AAP-1 stereo dream installed in an audiophile listening in Pennsylvania

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 More »


Pass Labs XP-12 audiophile stereo preamp reviewed

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 More »


Topping A90 Preamp and Headphone Amp reviewed by Steven Stone

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 More »


Schiit Audio Saga+ Stereo Preamp Reviewed

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 More »


Parasound P 6 stereos preamp revieweed

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… Read More »


Anthem STR Preamp 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 More »


Bricasti M20 Preamp Reviewed

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 More »


Trinnov Amethyst Preamp Reviewed

Trinnov Amethyst Stereo Preamplifier Reviewed

I was introduced to Trinnov more than a decade ago when the company’s Room Optimizer was demonstrated to me through a Sherwood R-972 receiver. Now, more than a decade and hundreds of product demonstrations later, I am still very impressed… Read More »


The Mark Levinson No. 326S stereo preamp is a $10,000 offering from Harman's top brand

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 More »


Topping Pre90 Preamp Reviewed

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 More »


T+A P 3100 HV reviewed

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 More »


Schiit Audio Freya S stereo preamp reviewed by Steven Stone

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 More »