New preamps making new claims.

Some are, some aren't. Its case by case. I would rather wait until the latest model has been out for some time and see what the reaction is. Also the first run often has problems that are ironed out later in production. The best buy is often the model that has just been replaced. There will be a mad scramble to dump them by those who must have the latest thing. The best policy is to drop back a generation or so. There is unlikely to be a large difference and you will save 50% of the price, often more.

I have a new Cary SLP98p f-1 version and I love it. But since it's all hand wired, point to point, with NOS tubes, I guess the only new thing really is the power supply, the rest could be from 1955, so............

BTW, GM and Ford cars are much better, as are all cars to be honest. It's not that GM and Ford are not making good cars, it's that the Japanese and the Germans have done a great job of making their product more desirable and more of a social status simble. It's a cycle, GM and Ford can come back.

Oh yeah, I forgot that with a few noteable exceptions, a lot of the American cars, especially GM have looked horrible. The Pontiac Vibe??? YUCK!!

I will almost forgive them that with the beautiful and woderfully built Cadillac CTS and Chevy Malibu.

Pay attention to Tvad's advice its solid;what pre amp,or pre amps have you visa card moving around?

They are not necessarily better. But they may tuned differently which you may or may not like better. Plus heavy efforts into design rework, which may cost more than the changes in the electronics.

The process of advancement in audio reproduction is more of a random walk than a straight line jog from better to best. If you examine the product history of companies that have been in the business for a significant amount of time you will see numerous changes is design philosophy and many "dead end" product lines.

You should also give some consideration to exactly why a company comes out with a new product. Frequently it's due to supplier issues. If a certain tube is no longer being produced, then an amp manufacturer will have to change the design of their amp. The new amp could in some ways be better than the old amp, but that raises questions about why they picked a different tube to design around in the beginning.

Despite what I say, eventually someone will release a Signature Reference Statement Mk3 product and some audiophile will immediately feel the need to upgrade from their beloved Mk2 version.