Opportunity to buy the best Preamp... but which?


On the tube front... AR Ref3 vs. CJ ART3 vs. VL TL-7.5 vs. Wavac PR-T1?

Or on the SS front... Burmester 808Mk5 vs Dartzeel NHB-18NS vs Krell Evolution2 vs MBL 6010D vs Halcro DM10?

My preference would be a neutral tube based model.

Any opinions?

Andrew
stevecortez
if there esisted a "best" component in each category, someone would specify the brand name and be able to justify the opinionor so-called knowledge.

the fact that for any component type there are so many suggestions as to what is "best", would seem to indicate that there is no best.

in fact all components are erroenous and they manifest this in different ways. thus, there can be no best amp, preamp, cd player, cable, speaker, power conditioner, etc., as each component has its strengths and weaknesses.
Mrtennis,

Clearly, your beliefs are firmly held. However, your logic is not so secure: the concept of the "best" is relative to other similar items and must obviously be qualified by criteria for evaluation and judgement (for example, frequency extension, imaging, sound stage, bass definition, pitch, timbral accuracy etc). These all being unavoidably qualified by the noted proximity to actual live performances - high fidelity.

Within these parameters (which I believe is where much audiophile discussion takes place), there can obviously be the best of any component, with the issue being one of "best at what"? A distinct issue is finding people that will agree on the criteria and this moves into the question of "taste". However, again, the issue of taste can be resolved if parameters are estabilished by those wishing to exchange and/or expolore their judgements. Again, the actual live performance is the inevitable and ultimate criteria for validating these judgements.

I think
God don't need no stinkin' pre-amp, he's got angels to sing live, well sort'a.