which preamp

"I agree about listening to a preamp before buying it. But it is not just a matter of tube products and risk. If you don't roll the right tubes in the preamp you may think you have a dud where you may actually have a jewel -- if you only knew.
Sabai (Reviews | Threads | Answers | This Thread)"

While its possible that something like that can happen, I don't see why a demo would be any less important. Also, most people don't roll tubes, and its highly unlikely that you'll demo a new tube product at an authorized dealer with anything other than stock tubes in it.

Rough buying a tube pre unless you have a tube tester.
On and off swaping of 8 tubes to find the one that has developed a hisssssss is hard on your system and YOUR system.

I have a fully balanced TRL Dude and am extremely happy with it. Paul Weitzel is a telephone call away (like last night, Sunday) if you have a problem/question. I have had some great preamps: ML 32, Atma-Sphere MP-1, Aesthetix Calypso, EAR 868, C-J 14, 16 LS and so far it is my favorite, just because it does everything so well. Havent heard the Audio Horizons, though.

Smokenjo,

I have an Atma-Sphere S-30. My DS DAC arrives tomorrow.

Zd542,

You're right about stock tubes, alas.

SABAI, let me know what you think about the PS DSD, AND WHICH AUDIO HORIZONS preamp do you have and what tubes do you like are you going to run the ps DSD balanced,mine is direct to monos balanced