Best tube preamp ever

There is no such thing as "the best". All of these preamps are in the top category...(my personal best is the Ayre preamp)....Before you put down the big bucks for these jewels, listen and decide for yourself.

I agree with Jazdoc. I will have a DHT preamp which can use any of these tubes 101D, 26, 226, 326 out next month. All point to point wiring, transformer volume control and custom made transformers which after trying out more than I can count on one hand, hopefully gives my product the edge over all other similar DHT preamps. In many comparison tests, the custom wound transformer was so much better sonically. Once you get the capacitors out of the signal path, the clarity, detail and micro dynamics really are stunning. IMO you also don't have to chase sound from ICs, power cords, power conditioners, as much because the preamp provides most of what they did in my past systems..

Happy Listening.

The above list can easily multiply ten-fold and all would probably be correct.
What should be remembered is the BEST pre will be degraded
if not mated to the appropriate amplifier and only if that amplifier is mated to the correct speaker and that speaker is correct for the room it is in.
Before you spend 20K on a component check to see whats left money wise for everything needed to complete your system

Listen to Goldeneraguy. Don't forget the room. It is the final arbiter of your sonics....

Smoothjazz,
Funny how one could own an MBL and then VAC...and think them comparable...how does MBL do what they do with solid state?
Marvelous gear...and I totally agree with your VAC love...there's something simply musical about the VAC stuff...Kevin really does know what music sounds like...it's that simple.

Admire your taste and envy your ownership.

Larry