Preamplifiers
Major Preamplifiers

Audio Federation Dealership Magazine Music Guide Blog

 

 

   

These tables list preamplifiers by the type of experience they were apparently designed to produce. Secondary characteristics of an peramplifier, if any, are listed in order of significance. There are no better or best in these lists - just different. We have personally heard all of these preamplifiers, enough times to have determined their sound or 'purpose' in life.

Impressive - Exaggerated bass and/or dynamics and/or detail
Sophisticated - Detailed with finesse, nice to listen to, pleasant
Workhorse - Competent with no real intention to do anything specific especially well
Sweet - Exaggerated harmonics and/or warmth
Natural - Timbre and tone are correct, everything else well balanced
Emotional - Music often pulls at heart strings
Real/Truth - Transparent, accurate
Magical/Spiritual - Precipitates psychological effects other than what might be expected

     

Use the ears, Luke.

 

 

 

 


Preamplifiers
 
    Sophisticated   Workhorse   House Sound   Emotional   Natural   Real  
                           
Picture            
 
Brand   Burmester   Goldmund   Conrad Johnson   Hovland   Lamm   Boulder  
                           
Models               HP100 series          
Price range               $6000          
Secondary
characteristics
                  Real      
                           
Notes                          
                           
                           
Picture                
Brand   FM Acoustics   Halcro   Audio Research       Aesthetix?   EMM Labs
/ Meitner
 
                           
Models                       Switchman  
Price range                       $10,000  
Secondary
characteristics
                         
                           
Notes                          
                           
                           
Picture                        
Brand           BAT              
                           
Models                          
Price range                          
Secondary
characteristics
                         
                           
Notes                          
                           
                           
Others  
 

 

   
 
 
 
 
 
         
 
 
 
 
                           

 

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