Valves, solid state, hybrids, passives ... been there, done that! All different, all good fun.

Here's a few that have controlled the music in my listening room ....

Some nice pre-amps :

Well, let's start with a not nice one - honestly the worst pre-amp I've ever heard - a high-end Sony - flat, bland, boring and utterly unmusical to my ears Simply stunning build quality though!



Ahhh .. this is more like it - a Graaf WFB valve pre-amp - glorious musicality (not accurate, I guess, but really nice!)



A Django TVS passive pre-amp. Yup, I could hear why a lot of folks get excited about these TVC pre-amps - very nice indeed, but I'll wait for the ones with remote control to hit the used market before I go there again



Another valve pre - this one a BAT VK3i - yummy!



This Audio Synthesis Passion8 passive pre has only recently departed my system - sonic transparency personified!



This one's interesting - a traditional garage-built effort by eBay seller Horbrarian - actually very good, and amazing value for money. I kept this for quite a while.



Here's an Aura CA200 - excellent rep - especially in Japan. Also much favoured by Frank Marshall (effem) of the perhaps temporarily defunct Krystal Kables. Not actually used this yet (!) - but bought it on the basis that it might usefully supplement my current obsession with passives.