Best Full-Function Preamplifier

It depends on whether you're looking for a fancy piece of gear so you can impress people, or just want a good preamp so you can listen to the music. I say don't waste your money. Find an Apt Holman preamp, have it gone over and then enjoy the music for around $1k. Two phono inputs, both MM, one with adjustable capacative loading. Tuner input plus two Aux; two tape monitors plus External Processing Loop and two outputs. Not beautiful but, in my opinion, an exceptional piece of gear.

@vinylshadow re:Townshend Allegri Reference Passive Preamp

Do you have experience with that or have you owned it? I am very intrigued by it. I have a good passive line stage that I used for years up until about 6 years ago. I still own it and it’s a backup. What can you tell me about the Townshend? I was interested in the Tortuga passives but they apparently have stopped selling them assembled and only sell some kits.

Thanks!

@patrickdowns 

I've recently purchased it after reading several reviews and talking to John Hannant at Townshend. 

I am still in the middle of a big system upgrade including the ASR Basis phono pre and many Townshend cables and Seismic Isolation devices so unfortunately I have not utilized the Allegri yet. 

The Passive nature was a big selling point but the reviews that I continue to read are Stellar. I guess I projected my anticipation in my OP....

Good luck!!

@vinylshadow — Excellent! I look forward to reading about your impressions of the Allegri. 

I have also been intrigued by the Townshend seismic isolation platforms for my speakers, but they are too expensive to buy without trying. I wish for a demo pair!

Cheers

@patrickdowns: Watch USAM for a set of used Townshend Audio Seismic Podiums or Bars, they come up for sale pretty regularly.

For a cheaper alternative, if your speakers have narrow enclosures with a base that extends out in all directions (front-to-back and side-to-side)---or bases that are "outriggers", you can use sets of Seismic Pods instead. The Pods may simply be placed at each corner of the base, or even bolted onto the speaker base or outrigger, in the holes provided for the stock spikes. The Pods are far cheaper than the Podiums and Bars, and equally effective, assuming the speaker base or outrigger is big enough.