any comments on the threshold fet ten/hl pre-amp?

It really depends on the rest of your system, your room, and your preferences. I tried a FET Ten in my system for three days and I couldn't stand it, I had to get a tubed unit back in my system pronto. I found the Ten etched, grainy, and bright. The Field Effect Transistors were VERY evident. Bear in my mind I was using a Classe SS amp and electrostatic speakers in a reasonably live room, a quite revealing and unforgiving system. I suppose if I had spent some time and money treating (dampening) the room, changed my cables (again) and done some other things the Ten may have settled in eventually. Why bother. If I had $750 to spend I'd pick up a used Audio Research SP9, it'll get you most of the way there.

For $750 I'd be looking for an Audible Illusions Modulus 3. When it comes to preamps you will probably be much more happy with tubes than solid state (with the possible exception of some models that are way out of your price range). Another excellent choice for even less money would be a Sonic Frontiers SFL1, which is a hybrid and uses only one tube (but no phono stage like the AI if that is important to you). If you're hooked on solid state one of the older Classe preamps would be a much better choice.

I WOULD BUY AN AUDIO RESEARCH SP6B.I HAVE OWNED EVERY AUDIO RESEARCH SP6 MODEL AND ALSO A SP9MKIII WHICH WAS VERY GOOD.I HAVE AN AUDIBLE ILLUSIONS M3A WHICH IS ALSO OUTSTANDING.I AM CURRENTLY USING MY SP10 SINCE I PLAY 98%VINYL.GETTING BACK TO THE SP6 SERIES,I SOLD ALL THE OTHERS AND WILL NOT SELL MY SP6B.HAS A REAL GOOD PHONO STAGE AS WELL WITH 60DB OF GAIN.

I have to laugh after reading the two posts above. Keep in mind that i'm not laughing at either of the posters themselves but only about the comments and how it pertains to the product in question.

The reason for my laughter is that it reminded me of when Moncrieff of IAR reviewed the NS 10 from Threshold. I would have to re-post the first few paragraphs of the review to completely clarify where i'm coming from, but suffice it to say, he stated that many audiophiles are divided on that product. Tube-o-philes find it hard and steely sounding while SS fans found it amazingly clear. He said that comparing the Threshold to a tube preamp would be like comparing apples to oranges.

That same review also talks about folks prefering the euphonics and "right soundingness" of tubes over what was really the more accurate reproduction of the Threshold. The "funny" thing is that he ranked it right in the same group as the ARC SP6 and a Paragon 12A, both of which are "warm and tubey" sounding due to high frequency roll-off. He stated that the Threshold was simply the other side of the same coin and what side you chose to look at was up to you. In other words, both presentations could be quite excellent. How well you or anyone else liked them would remain up to the balance of your system and personal preferences.

Once again though, we come back to the "accuracy vs musicality" type of product with most of us looking for something combining both aspects of performance. Sean
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Sean very good. It all comes down to Taste and how it
mates up with the rest of ones system. I like Cabernet
you might Like Merlot. Tubes might be my taste SS might
be yours. Its all a Trade off when it comes to High End
Audio. Why else would there be so much Used audio gear
for sale. Break open a Nice Murphy Goode Cab( great for
the Money) and listen to some good tunes. I thougt thats
what it was all about.

Marco