Audible illusions Modulus 3A or Klyne 6L

I've got no experience with the Klyne 6L, but I can highly recommend the AI mod3a. I’ve been using the AI product for many years *(with no problems) starting with the mod3, then the mod3a, and now I use the mod3b. My preference has been to use the Russian tubes... The tube eating stories are very dated.

I agree with Stickman451, that the Hovland would best the AI easily but at what price. Additionally Hovland is out of business; Art on the other hand is just slow.

Michael Femer's review from Stereophile Magazine stated he was thrilled with the Modulus 3A right out of the box and stated the 3A offers the highest level of performance at a bargain price. Further he states that the 3A is clearly one of the finest-sounding, best-built, full function preamplifiers in the world and reviews from around the world would reflect that.

I thought I would mention this only because this review is what motivated me to buy the Modulus L1, same exact line-stage as the 3A, minus the phono stage.

Yes he did..........in 1996 !!!! At a time when tube prices were much more affordable and burning three pairs of NOS tubes in a year was not a concern for most tube lovers !

For me, a concern that Methodology has to know about before making a choice. Just to be aware. There is a lot of competition out there in the tube preamplification market, in the used as much as the new. A lot more than there was in 1996. Especially at the AI Modulus level. And Michael Fremer rated it 13 yrs ago. And he did rate a lot since then. Curiously, a lot of them are also very fine units.

I've had the M3 and M3A for about 13 years combined. Only retubed the M3A once to improve the midrange. Installed Amperex Bugle Boys and they made a tremendous improvement. Blows away the standard Sovtek's by a significant margin. Not sure you can beat the value this preamp delivers at the prices here on the 'gon.

Absolutely NO WAY to know what will work best for your whole system. Check the specs and go from there. Looks like the AI is winning here hands down so that's something. For my money I went a different route -- passive TVC -- and haven't looked back. Value is off the charts -- but you need to make sure the impedance match will work.

Compared to the other active pre's I've had, there's no contest for transparency and the 'you are there' experience. FWIW