🏆Home Audio Awards: The BEST to Worst Preamplifier List !
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- Опубліковано 11 січ 2025
- How about a Fun Contest?
Yes! That is what I did in this video. I made a list of Best to Worst Preamps based on my audio experience. Here, you will get to know my 5 Best preamplifiers and the 2 Worst preamplifiers I have owned. Comment below if you own devices that are different from or similar to those shown in the video. Also, take the liberty to share your ranking. I await your reply. Your support and interaction mean the world 🌎 to me.
About Me
👨🏽🦲👋🏽 Hi, I am Jay! My audio journey began over a decade ago when I started as a simple consumer who enjoyed trying different power amplifier brands in order to understand their unique sonic characteristics. This led me to own over 300 power amplifiers with thousands upon thousands of hours of trial and error. My curiosity never stopped, so I began to explore new speaker brands, preamplifiers, cables, DACs and many other components to form the ultimate audio system. My relentless pursuit of knowledge is what led me to create Jay's Audio Lab LLC, so I can help you build an awesome system that will sweep you off your feet! Knowledge is power!
Are you tired of buying the wrong audio components for your sound system? Are you spending your hard-earned money on this hobby and not getting anywhere? Let me help you avoid the same mistakes!
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⌛ A Quick Summary of the Video
As an audio device enthusiast, I have owned over 300 amplifiers, and from that list, I have picked 24 preamps for today's audio contest. The 24 Nominees in the Preamps Category are Audio Research REF6SE, Audio Research REF10, Mola Mola Makua, PS Audio BHK Signature, Dartzeel NHB N18NS MK2, Boulder 2110, Boulder 3010, Boulder 2010, Gryphon Pandora, Gryphon Zena, Gryphon Commander, Soulution 725, McIntosh C1100, McIntosh C2500, Constellation Pictor, Constellation Virgo III, Pass Labs XP30, Pass Labs XP32, SIMAudio 740P, Momentum HD, Block Audio, Luxman C900U, VAC Master, Merrill Audio Christine.
My audio journey has not been easy, and some preamps have tested time. There have been preamps that I could not recommend more to people who come for consultations. Similarly, there also have been preamps that have disappointed me as an owner. But an audio enthusiast's life is supposed to be filled with trials and errors. I have exactly done that. HiFi systems and devices are expensive. Saving small amounts of money to finally purchase a preamp worth thousands of dollars and not being happy with the product is quite a bummer!
I have made this fun contest video to share my opinions and experience with these preamps from different brands and their packaging over the years. Please note that your opinions and rankings might be different from mine. And that is completely okay! It is our differences that make us unique in this audio experience journey. Share your thoughts with the Audio Community and enrich the comment section.
Subscribe to my channel for more such updates! ❤️💬🔔
#hifi #audiophile #audio #preamp #hometheater #awards
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Nice job Jay. Especially the synergy comments. Now, when's the reveal on the mystery DAC?
Soon man. I’ve been busy with my job
Fantastic new intro and number reveals. Such an impressive history of preamps. Your experiences are invaluable for similar buyers - and super interesting and enjoyable to everyone else. No one else will ever match this, JAY 👍
Thank you kindly!
@@jaysaudiolab Your great work inspired me to pick up my dream preamp - Naim NAC 552 - an iconic unit in England 🏴. Had one owner, 2008 unit, mint, all accessories, £7.3k. And resonance stands (Quadraphonic IRAP) for everything. Sounds SO GOOD. The 552 is clearly not the best preamp in the world but performs well - has a relentless sound with never ending detail, and loads of musicality. My preamp is the heart of my system 👍
I am still enjoying my Threshold FET Ten/HL preamp, mated to a Simaudio Moon W5.3 HK RS Stereo Power Amplifier
Means a lot coming from you who has a vast association with so many of the world’s best
Thanks
Superb presentation. You keep getting better. I am missed a lot of videos and will get back to picking them up overtime. Enjoy the music!
Great presentation; all of these are out of my price range. You listed two McIntosh products, but didn’t say what you thought of them. I have an older two-piece solid state C100 all-analog unit which I find is dead quiet; I’ve been looking at some of their tube preamps, still plenty dear (as in ‘expensive’) to me.
He's fishing for big fish, not small patatos
Your videos are getting better every time.
This is where your many years of actual owner experience comes shining through, and I can learn and benefit from it. Other reviewers will listen to components for weeks or months, and if suitably impressed may purchase them if their finances permit. This does not happen often. So far, you are the only person I know and listen to who has owned such a impressive variety of High End components. If I need to know what a particular component is doing or how reliably it performs, I'm gonna listen to the owner. Slam Dunk!
Thanks man !
Nice seeing you more upbeat in the presentation tonality overall, I appreciated it. Keep rolling, thanks!
I had the Sim Audio 740p briefly but I upgraded it to the 850p which I like a lot and have had for many years now. I have found it goes well with two 860a v2 power amps in mono mode.
Another great video by Jay, very informative.
Glad you enjoyed it
Thank you
Thank you for your effort !
R-E-S-P-E-C-T !!! 🤗
Any time!
Synergy synergy synergy 💯🎶👌 you have listening experience, a fantastic way of explaining things and a rock solid timing Jay👊 I couldn't agree with you more 💯👊👊👊 Gracias caballero 🎶💥
Thank you 🙌
A very valuable and priceless video, Jay.I will do my best to add Audio Research Ref 6se to my system.There's something I'm curious about.I didn't see MBL 5011 or 6010D in the list.Have you listened to these before?
You should try the Esoteric Grandioso Pre-Amp
True
I love your new intro Jay. It’s like we’re tuning into a weekly tv show!!!
Glad you enjoy it!
Very Good Video Jay.
Please do more of these. They are fun to watch
Thanks, will do!
I know it’s the sound that counts but I just can’t get past the Dartzeel colours. Love the looks of Gryphon
Good Evening Jay, here from Switzerland, in line with your last subject, can you give me your take on the Dan D’agostino Momentum hd? It was on your liste , but didn’t appeared on a top 5 , I ask you, because I am able to get myself this pre-amp. In advance, thank you very much. Ray
Consider my consultation service. If you’re spending this kind of money then it makes sense.
Impressive list of preamps. Thank you for sharing Jay.
My pleasure!
You seem to like the most expensive pieces of equiptment. High dollars does not always equal great sound. I own an older Audible Illusions preamp which I think is vety good. A dealer who sells it said you would have to spend so much more to get more performance. It holds it's own
Great video sharing your views on the best/worst preamps you've owned. For me there are 2 preamps which stood out above others. From the yesteryears, the Cello Audio Suite and Audio Pallette preamp combination was phenomenal. While in today's world, one phono stage and preamp combination which you should give a listen to is the FM Acoustics 223 and 268.
Thanks for sharing!
Jay i appreciate your Hi End reviews. Good video but you can't listen to measurements. Thats just what I learned on my personal audio journey.
Noted!
Jay - I'm pretty sure I've seen you on a recent Estelon extreme demo. What did you think of them. I'd really value your opinion on those speakers?
Hard to say in show conditions
VERY surprised by the poor showing on the Gryphon Zena! Ive heard notnhing but great things about it from those whove owned it.
Would it be asking too much for a list from number 6 on down? I think it would be useful to many of us; of course synergy is important; for those of who know our systems well and want to upgrade it could go something like this, wow this preamplifier is number 11 on Jay’s list, of all the amplifiers he has owned; not too shabby, in fact high praise indeed AND I can afford it. So this would be the missing part between best and worst; I guess akin to Stereophile having Class A recommended components and Class B recommended components; maybe you could divide the list like that with some borderline Class A. The list itself is great, the ranking 1-32 would be greater. Thanks!
You should try the top models from Aavik, FM Acoustics, Nagra, Burmester, Goldmund. Got a feeling Goldmund would be exposed as an absolute scam at its price point.
FM268 would get my vote but I don’t think European preamp will be Jay’s winner. Honestly US makes the most technologically advanced products like F22,F35, I don’t think Europe has any matching fighters. But in terms of musicality, I have to say it gonna be the Swiss products
@@wraspire i personally think that Swiss products sell mostly based on its carefully crafted mystique that somehow only Swiss engineers understand musicality and not anyone else in the world. I've heard Goldmund, FM Acoustics, Nagra, and was never really impressed. Best preamp i've heard was Aavik C880, from Denmark.
@@A-gks I respect everyone’s personal preference and taste. I never like Aavik products, too clean and not emotionally engaging.
@@wraspireAavik is amazing
@@wraspire the new Aavik 880 series are based on Class A design, if you have the chance to hear it i think you will be surprised at its musicality
Jay， which rank is the Gryphon Commander in your list
Watch the video and you will get the answer
Exactly
Jay, Good video. Confused on one thing: The list of preamps at the start only has perhaps 8 or so preamps on it but you said you owned a lot more. Was that just a sampling of the ones you owned?
The list has 23 on the video. You just didn’t watch the video
@@jaysaudiolab Sorry, you're correct. Watched the video, but somehow it seemed like fewer amps than 23 to me.
I really thought Gryphon commander would be as one of the top 5, why not?
Because Jay wants to be the commander
@@glichasasha750 🤣
Watch the video🤦♂️
Did you not watch the video? If you do, you will get the answer
Gotta say I’m shocked anyone would laude the Merrill, which I agree is quite good, though not great, while claiming the 2 Boulder’s preamps are their 2 favorites among that list.
I’ve not heard the Boulder 2000 series, heard the entire Boulder 500 line back when you were likely a teenager and that was their highest end. Did not like them then. Had the 3010 in my home less than 2 years ago for a full week, it was supposedly “broken in”. My CAT SL1, an actual audiophile legend of a preamp, simply blew it away. Soundstage width, depth, definition, timbre. Other than a remote control, the Boulder was wholly unimpressive. Full disclosure, it was solely fed analogue source material, most my Ampex ATR-102 and a bit of vinyl using a DSAudio phono preamp. I also had no SS amps for it to drive and I had to use some borrowed Neutrik make-XLR-Female RCA adapters at all preamp connections except the tape head preamp as everything I own is RCA hookup.
I presently have a brand new Soulution 747 phono-tape head preamp I’m demoing, supposedly the only one currently in US. Still giving it some break in time but this far it’s the best SS phono pre I’ve ever heard. It has optical input for my DS Audio cartridge and is even quieter than the DS Audio pre. Once broken in I’m going to compare it to my Manley tape head pre. If you’re a fan of Soulution, I’d speak with your dealer. I can guarantee it’s already miles better than anything from Boulder and offers inputs for MC, MI and optical cartridges 👍
Very curious as to your outcomes???
It really makes me think you have some really substandard bottlenecks that hampered what you thought the 3010 was doing
Maybe give a try of Naim Statement?
Maybe
I notice that kick drums on digital audio recordings have this dook, dook, dook sound which is so unnatural. Not the solid bass one hears when the beaters hits the drum on pure analog audio recordings
I hate digital with a passion and i hate solid state with a passion i call it steely state. I liked blasting booming bass and super sharp detail as a kid and was impressed by big steel boxes with how many watts more was all that mattered then I grew up and fell in love again with tubes those little glowing souls sticking out of my Joule Electras OTLs and the sound of a beautiful cartridge on a great table flowing through my big Stats.
@@erics9754 I have a vintage set up Luxman tuner, Pioneer amp and a pair of Sansui loudspeakers I picked up at a charity shop for peanuts that sounds better than my $15,000 set up in my living room. What have they done to electronics and loudspeakers I don't know
i gave it some thought; whyno luxman? accuphase? just some thoughts....
Isn’t it obvious…
After listening to his words and the pricing of these items. This whole audio thing sounds exactly like the scripted WWF wrestling where people will line up to watch as if there is a real competition. If the Chinese can copy these Dartzeel's and sell them for $350 dollars and make it sound 1:1 why are you paying $80,000.00 or over 100K? This is very rediculous.
What sort of shipping containers does Boulder use for their top of the line preamps? Cardboard? This post has sat unanswered by Jay for days. I guess one needs to subscribe to his premium membership consultation services to get a simple reply.
I always thought the power amp was all important and had the most influence on sound and the pre amp played a bit part ....am I wrong ?
Everything matters
I believe you should start with the best preamp you can afford. It will make everything else downstream sound better.
I'm looking forward to you getting rid of the Wilson Speakers.
Wilsons are garbage
@@raymaksimavicius4902 agree. Why not just get a Magico M9
Jay is the definition of audio. No size!
Meh, the McIntosh C1100 is definitely in the top 5 plus it has top-notch measurement, beating most solid state pre-amps. Hi-fi News measured the distortion at just 0.00009 - 0.0005% at 1V, 20Hz-20kHz
Nothing McIntosh makes is top 5
McIntosh is like a Cadillac, no Cadillac is associated with Ultra-luxury vehicles. Sorry man
@@divertiti come talk to me when you have tried over 20 amps and preamps in the $20k to $45k range
@wraspire everyone has their own perception, so it's OK. Mike from Suncoast Audio liked it more than the other pre-amps on Jay's channel a few weeks back. I sure will go with his opinion than yours and he can afford anything.
I can listen to my Mac MA352 all day and night. After a few minutes of demoing many other high ends, my ears start ringing from fatigue.
How many (little) people are able to buy these amps?
No idea
Can't you better talk about equipment that is affordable for 95% of the people?@@jaysaudiolab
Me haha
Try a good passive, LDR or relay type because why not 👍
The big ss amps he likes are generally very conducive to passive, especially autoformer types. Would sound great👍
Problem is I’ve never seen one with a remote and he did a video awhile back stating he would never buy a pre that required him to get off his ass to change source or sound level 🤣🤣🤣
Not a bad idea
@@MichaelM-to4sg 😂
@@jaysaudiolab Bespoke Audio Co, only builds passives with remote and Pursuit Perfect System has a review, these passives are high end + expensive. I tried posting links but Utube removed them with prejudice. If interested 👍
no Gryphon on top 5?? Wow!
Commander apparently performs like a common foot soldier....
😂😂@@connorduke4619
What you define as neutral I would call more sterile sounding or clinically cleaner but lacks soul and realism. Not my vibe but I respect your tastes. Just like I do not like contemporary houses they seem lifeless and like in a hospital. The VAC master I feel gets the shaft here because the price range is only about 30k to 40k. The VAC statement which is on another level would be more in the range of the 70k to 80k pre-amps you put above it. YES there are alot of differences between the master and the STATEMENT. I had a list of them from Kevin who owns the company.
I agree until then he says he was blown away by the Merrill🤷♂️
I personally think he’s impressed by the retail price of the Boulder products and there’s some sort of personal relationship there. I find everything I’ve heard from Boulder the last 35 years to be dry and un-engaging, but that’s me.
I’m currently demoing a Soulution phono and tape head pre that might be the best I’ve ever heard. It’s extremely quiet but also very engaging and detailed. If I were shopping for a preamp, I’d definitely give them a try even though I’m not typically a fan of silicon based pre’s. I still don’t think anything can match my CAT SL1, thus no reason to consider anything else.
I’ve had a number of really good pre’s the last 40 years, my 3 favorites are CJ Premier 7, Audible Illusions Modulus 3A and the CAT SL1. An hm goes to the Hovland HP100. I’d personally put any of those 4, but especially the CAT, against everyone of the pre’s on his list in a blind test and I’m betting I’d win 9/10 ballots.
still no mystery DAC reveal
Better than boulder 3010 I tested is Ayon conquistador :)
Ok
Be honest Jay. Are you a rep for Boulder!!?? 😂😂😂 j/k buddy (I haven’t seen a Boulder in a system in 20+ years with other brands that are 1/4 the price they are IMO (we all have them) far superior than boulders 🤷🏻♂️🤷🏻♂️
The only experience I have with them is in my dreams...
Lmao
Ayon conquitador is the best compare to all others. It kill audio research ref 6 and 40 I had at home….
Nice
No McIntosh?
You might consider the First Sound top of the line. This guy builds only preamps by hand.
Are ps audio really that bad ?
Why not review some good speakers?......the legendary Quad 57 ESLs. None of your crazy BIG Yankee stuff here, just great sounding audio from the year 1957...the year that the Quad ESLs were released. Unbeatable for classical/ jazz and particularly for vocals. Team them up with a nice open sounding valve/tube or SS amp and a musical subwoofer and you have audio nirvana.
Get the 3010 back. You might have a channel to run but get it back. Don’t go backwards , that’s stupid.
Lol this guy is all about the most expensive component you can buy. The more expensive, the better, right? 😂
You can buy an FM Acoustics FM155 Chinese copy for US$200.They sound superb.That is probably as good a preamp as you would need.Better than some of the $30,000 preamps I have heard.
Commander no 1 ,?
Watch the video
And the others....?
I owned dartzeel and few others… the ayon conquistador is better in every domains !!!!!!
Yawn, W4S DAC2V2SE, done 😊
I heard these speakers wanting to be blown away and I hated them i never liked Wilsons they always gave me a headache.
It amazes me how many commenters push hard certain specific brands that while priced high end or higher are by performance standards more mediocre audibly with jeweled up looks that some may prefer. I wish they would invest in far better design talent, circuitry, and implementation instead of C RATED DESIGN, TALENT, CIRCUITS. NOT EVERYONE IS DUPED BY THE OVERRATED OVERPRICED JEWELED UP LET DOWNS
Jay, you REALLY need to adjust levels of the vocal inserts ("Number 5", Number 4") so that they at least come close to matching the volume level of the rest of your video. They are WAAAAY TOO LOUD!!
K
Timestamps are your friend
Great reviews, but I have to ask… for an audio “expert” why have you allowed this video to sound so bad? Seriously, get a decent lapel mic.
Audio Music missing again
compré el preamplificador Hestia la semana pasada, y debo decir que fue una verdadera decepción. Si vas a usar solo streaming, podría ser una opción, pero si piensas usar vinilos o cds, olvidalo. Es un verdadero pedazo de basura. No lo recomiendo bajo ningún punto de vista
Try some good OTL tube amps Jay and use tubes in everything then buy a first-rate table with a step-up transformer a good phono pre amp tube only then you will discover good-sounding and music with life in it not a hard copy of ones and zeros. Digital is not true it does not sound like live music so I strongly disagree with you based on 50 years of being a music lover, not a gear lover.
I would never buy anything from Jay's.
Yes that’s because I don’t have cheap stuff for sale 👍
Honestly, what's the point of these budget preamplifiers? If you can't afford proper audio equipment just find another hobby
Only wealthy people should be able to enjoy music?
@@elitetrader5468 With every passing year average folks are being priced out of everything and all pleasures in life. All thanks to rich pricks willing to pay these ridiculous prices that encourage them to keep going up. The funny thing is ego-stroking for them most are not true audiophiles they are insecure people who get their jollies on one-upmanship. The ironic thing about it is you can build a system that will give you more listening pleasure than the mega buck ones you just have to learn research and get experience in what to buy ignore the price more expensive does not equal better sound. Pick up a pair of Decware set amps or any other brand of set amps or OTLs if you can afford them and one of their preamps with a phono stage. A good preamp is the heart of a system and I believe it is even more important than the amps and speakers. Then get a good cart with a step-up transformer and a low output MC cart Koetsu sound amazing and some high sensitivity 16 ohm speakers and you will be in heaven. If you want to blast music at a party then buy some steely state stuff the people there will be too drunk to care as long as the bass is booming they will be happy.