10 Sites | Since 1995 | Read Worldwide
MartinLogan Abyss Series
Paradigm Founder Series
Wilson Audio
State of the Art
Focal
  • Sites
      • Back
      • SoundStage! Network (Here)
      • SoundStage! Access
      • SoundStage! Australia
      • SoundStage! Global
      • SoundStage! Hi-Fi
      • SoundStage! Life (podcast)
      • SoundStage! Simplifi
      • SoundStage! Solo
      • SoundStage! Ultra
      • SoundStage! Xperience
  • Videos
      • Back
      • Central
      • Encore
      • Expert
      • Icons
      • InSight
      • Lead-In
      • Real Hi-Fi
      • Shorts
      • Talks
      • Travelers
  • Newsletter
  • Buying Guides
      • Back
      • 2021 Equipment Buying Guide
      • 2020 Equipment Buying Guide
      • 2019 Equipment Buying Guide
      • 2018 Equipment Buying Guide
      • 2017 Equipment Buying Guide
      • 2016 Equipment Buying Guide
      • 2015 Equipment Buying Guide
      • 2014 Equipment Buying Guide
      • 2013 Equipment Buying Guide
      • 2012 Equipment Buying Guide
      • 2011 Equipment Buying Guide
      • 2010 Equipment Buying Guide
      • 2009 Equipment Buying Guide
  • Measurements
      • Back
      • Loudspeakers
      • Subwoofers
      • Amplifiers
      • Preamplifiers
      • Phono Preamplifiers
      • Digital-to-Analog Converters
      • Headphones
      • Headphone Amplifiers
  • Advertisers
  • Hiring

Sponsors

300x600 Vivid Audio G2 (202204)
300x600 Vivid Audio Kaya 45 (202204)

(2009) Preamplifiers

Preamplifiers reviewed on the SoundStage! Network in 2009. All prices are in US dollars unless otherwise noted and are accurate at the time of the review.

The entries are shown alphabetically by company name.

Behold APU768 Preamplifier-Processor-DAC

Details
Parent Category: 2009 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
Category: (2009) Preamplifiers
  • Reviewers Choice
  • Select Component

behold_apu768_300w

Price: $58,000 as configured ($30,000 base price).

Website: www.behold.eu

Jeff said: It can work wonders, and it won’t be outclassed by any other single component in the equation. The Behold APU768 is the most advanced piece of high-end electronics I’ve ever used.

ultra sel 120x80

Read the Ultra Audio review.

The gist: The future of ultra-high-end preamps?

Belles Statement VT-01 Preamplifier

Details
Parent Category: 2009 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
Category: (2009) Preamplifiers
  • Reviewers Choice

belles_vt01_300w

Price: $4695

Website: www.powermodules.com

Vade said: The Belles VT-01 sounds spectacular, looks gorgeous, is easy to operate, and, considering its performance, is reasonably priced.

rc 70x80

Read the SoundStage! review.

The gist: Dave Belles hitting his stride.

Convergent Audio Technology SL1 Legend Preamplifier

Details
Parent Category: 2009 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
Category: (2009) Preamplifiers
  • Reviewers Choice

cat_sl1_300w

Price: $19,950 with internal phono stage, $16,950 for line stage only

E-mail: catamps@aol.com

Marc said: Given its many and varied strengths, the CAT SL1 Legend is the finest preamp I’ve had in my system. If it takes years of tinkering to produce a preamp like this one, so be it. Greatness, as they say, can’t be rushed.

rc 70x80

Read the SoundStage! review.

The gist: The CAT’s out of the bag: this could be the best.

Lamm LL2.1 Deluxe Preamplifier

Details
Parent Category: 2009 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
Category: (2009) Preamplifiers
  • Reviewers Choice

lamm_ll21_300wPrice: $5990

Website: www.lammindustries.com

He said: Perhaps the highest compliment I can pay the Lamm LL2.1 Deluxe is to say that, after I came to know it, I didn’t want to review it -- I just wanted to hear music through it. By the end of my listening sessions, the audiophile words tended to fall away.

rc_70x80

Read the SoundStage! review.

The gist: Vladimir Lamm improves on a classic.

Trends Audio PA-10 SE Preamplifier

Details
Parent Category: 2009 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
Category: (2009) Preamplifiers

trends_pa10se_300w

Price: $265

Website: www.trendsaudio.com

Roger said: The SEs cost significantly more than the earlier Trends products I’ve heard and admired, and with higher cost come higher expectations of sound quality -- in that regard, these models delivered.

Read the GoodSound! review.

The gist: Tubes on the cheap.

Us

Joseph Taylor
Geoffrey Morrison
Dennis Burger
Schneider
Gordon Brockhouse
Jason Thorpe
Edgar Kramer
Vivid Audio D26
Vivid Audio Kaya

This site is the main portal for
SoundStage!

All contents available on this website are copyrighted by SoundStage!® and Schneider Publishing Inc., unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved.

This site was designed by Rocket Theme, Karen Fanas, and The SoundStage! Network.
To contact us, please e-mail info@soundstagenetwork.com

To Top
Focal