REVIEW: Audio Research LS28SE preamplifier

[@m_DT]

Hi Steve. Just want to say that my complete system cost hovers around $10k and I don’t think I’ll ever be able to afford $10k for a single component, but I really enjoyed this review and please keep ‘em coming from all price ranges. I learn a lot whether the gear costs $100 or $10k. Thanks.

[@Xx-xd3zo]

I'm with you. Whether out of my range or not, I still get a lot out of his reviews. Come to think of it, that's a sign of one helluv'an audio guy and reviewer.

[@homerjones3291]

Always good to know what quality components look like, so when you see them at Goodwill you can snatch them up.

[@m_DT]

Homer Jones I’d be surprised and shocked if I ever came across anything from AR at a thrift store, but you never know. AR seems to retain their value on the used showroom floors of my local dealers.

[@homerjones3291]

Matthew DiTullo No, probably not. I HAVE found a couple of old Marantz pieces in exceptional condition for not very much, and I was surprised and shocked (and grabbed them with both hands). A pitfall of buying expensive equipment on the sly, because if you die and no one in the house knows how much you spent for something, that’s exactly what can happen to it.

[@m_DT]

Homer Jones Very true.

[@stimpy1226]

My first live Jazz experience was in 1965 when I was 18 and my friend and I drove down to the Five Spot in Greenwich Village to hear The Max Roach Quintet with Freddie Hubbard, Clifford Jordan, Ronnie Matthews and Ron Carter with Max's wife, Abby Lincoln who sang several numbers with the group. We made this trip for many weeks, each week better than the week before. That was It for me and I've been addicted to Jazz ever since.

[@josephmasi6721]

I saw Monk there. Loved that palce.

[@stimpy1226]

Having the third output is great when you're using the first two and you have a separate headphone amp. It works great for me. One output to speakers, second output to active subwoofer and output three to my headphone amp.

[@homerjones3291]

Yep. Get annoyed at those companies who don’t give you a headphone jack nor fixed outputs, and yet sell separate headphone amps. Talking to you, Schiit.

[@MangoZen]

Wow..so much hate on ARC and the price...I’ve owned lower priced ARC (bought used) and love their products. This is discouraging...Steve mixes it up by exposing this tribe to higher end electronics, and people bash him for it. There are only so many under $1k small speakers the man can review. I for one love the variety. Keep ‘em coming Steve!!!

[@MrChristerBerg]

It’s called envy

[@bigblueocean]

Your presentation skills have really come on Steve. It's a treat to watch you.

[@moran2354]

Hi Steve, you are the best reviewer that I ever seen on you tube, just phenomenal. Cheers to you.

[@matthewsallman1700]

Thanks Steve! Wow, all the hate here. You do realize that there are many products that are MUCH more expensive than this preamp, right? No one is forcing you to buy any of this. If it isn't your thing, pass by. As others have said, Audio Research builds all of their equipment in Minnesota, from American made parts, with trained American labor. Sure you could build it in China, but that isn't the way the company works. High End American audio is desired all over the world. It's a shame it gets criticized at here at home. Audio Research has produced some of the best sounding equipment out there. I have owed several pieces of their gear over the years - four currently. Only two of those pieces did I buy new. One of the great thing about Audio Research is that even though it is expensive, it holds value very well so people trade up. When they do, the previous generation is available at a discount. I now have the two generation old LS27. It sounds fantastic, especially with the new upgraded (used) Audio Research phonostage I just added. I'm not rich, but I do value my audio system and I just had a small windfall, so I splurged. I played Miles Davis Sketches of Spain for a friend yesterday and he told me today he couldn't believe how great it sounded and he has been thinking of it all day today. Experience something before you criticize it.

[@SuperMcgenius]

After listening to many preamps a number of years ago I bought a Aesthetix Calypso and then added vintage tubes which really brought it alive.

[@johngutmanis3580]

Hi Steve, I was surprised and delighted by your review of the LS28se. I live in Minneapolis just down the road from AR. I'm also a member and a board member of the Audio Society of Minnesota. One of our other board members works at AR and actually let me use the beta version of the LS28SE as well as the tube amp that compliments it. I compared it to my reference system which is a Mcintosh C50 preamp and MC352 amp running Magnepan .7's with REL Tzero subs. I ran the AR preamp with my 352 and the .7's without the REL. I agree with you it's a sweet preamp, very detailed and neutral with a little tube, just a little tube sounding. My C50 has a warmish more punchier sound, than the LS28SE. The LA28SE does make recordings sound better. Any way just wanted to say hi, I enjoyed the review and agreed with you that the LS28SE is a very very good Preamp. I noticed a lot the comments expressed concern and dismay about the high price. I just want to add that if you want to buy very high quality audio built in America and you want the company to pay its employees good wages, products are going to cost a lot. There's just no getting around that. I also encourage your followers and others to support your local audio dealer if you have one nearby. My .7's were purchased locally as was my c50, the c50 was the store demo so I did get a discount. When I purchased the MC352 used, I tried to find one locally but after 2 weeks of searching no luck, I did buy it on ebay used. But I encourage all to support your brick and mortar store! Keep up the good work!

[@dannyjonze]

i saw Son of Dave live, here in the uk. Highly reccommended. I have not heard his recordings but him setting up loops and building the whole arrangement and harmonica on the fly was great live

[@khalid969]

Hi Steve, can you please do a video about neighbors. Neighbor stories, neighbor management, sound proofing, etc, etc. Thank you in advance.

[@sebastianbachert9528]

And a video about wifes!

[@jsusky]

I second the request re: soundproofing - I am getting ready to move the big rig upstairs (a Cornwall One copy which has a pro woofer with a legitimate 98dB/2.83V/1m sensitivity). Currently - it's in a room with a garage and kitchen (several walls) between it an the neighbor. Upstairs - a double pane window set in an "R28" 2x4 stud/drywall/wood-siding wall. As a stopgap, I may put book shelves between/behind the speakers to block the window - they would not quite be flush to the window frame - as there is a hot-water baseboard that forces a gap. I know myself too well - having crossed the line many times with martinis, G-and-T's, and whisky sours. STEVE PLEASE HELP!!

[@hamidrezahabibi8111]

Khalid Akkad Neighbors could become fatal in the USA 🇺🇸.

[@vintagehifilover]

Great review Steve, having recently become an ARC owner I sure am glad that ARC is once again independently owned.

[@obibaddad1991]

Amazing video because I have a very similar story. My first ARC unit was an SP6. I sent it in for mods twice and made it a 6B and 6C. I never should have sold it. I also made it through a bunch of ARC amps. I Came to my senses and bought a Reference 3 and later a Reference 5. Lost my way again during a bout with chronic audiophilia. Back in the 70's I too was purchasing with the employee discount. 10K takes this way out of my current league. No problem though. I am happy with the system I have. I am just glad ARC is doing well.

[@Hare_deLune]

"Chronic Audiophilia". I like it! : )

[@RumblestripDotNet]

Steve you forgot "Step inside, step inside"

[@tripster4]

I wish more preamps had balanced record outs. I use them for my headphone amplifier. A pair of line level outs would be even better. Then you could connect an analog to digital converter (digitizing vinyl) at the same time.

[@gregNFL]

Nice addition to description. Components in comparison. Bravo.

[@MickTimmy]

It's nice that you give the price early. That way I dont have to waste my time listening to a review of a component that costs 10 times what my whole system cost.

[@Hi-FiBBQ]

O3? Son of Dave? To quote you, "WOW!" One of the best, most entertaining albums I've heard in some some. Thoroughly groovy, start to finish. Thank you for this (and many others I've gleaned from watching your show).

[@juliaset751]

I have always been a big fan of the old style look. Toggle switches, rotary selectors, such as the old SP series. I guess we have to move into the 21 century at some point.

[@GadgetryTech]

Excellent review Steve. You have a way with words that really conveys the emotion of listening. I'm glad you touched on the volume adjustability at low volumes. I found that some amps and other electronic devices don't put enough steps in at lower listening volumes. Have you listed to the Alta Audio Alecs yet? It's changed what I expect from a 10k speaker pair. Absolutely incredible sound.

[@SeanDamonGreene]

Well, I can afford the book. I will be adding it to my collection and it will have a permanent place on my shelf. It looks like a nice coffee-table book and a fascinating read.

[@tms372]

The remote may seem cheap but it works great, better than some heavy duty cast units.

[@MrBumrah123]

£2k gets you a bomb proof used LS26. I'd love to hear the difference between this and that.

[@Nadtochy]

The show that never ends. I like that.

[@klaymoon1]

Great review. I really wish Audio Research will one day release a preamp with built in phono. 10k for preamp and another 10k for phono is a bit too much for many people, myself included.

[@nabdrumworks4719]

Love your stories, Steve. And, Max Roach, wow too cool!

[@sidvicious3129]

I'm a current Audio Research guy, I own a LS27, which I love. The rest of my system is the DS450, cd3 mark II and Dac 8 and a PH8 phono stage.. The thing missing on the newer preamp in the ls series starting with the Ls28 regular one is the gain control for low, med and high, which is on the Ls26 and ls27. My next step up will be an older Ref5se or Ref6 preamp.

[@jc51373]

The Ref6 doesn't have gain control either so no idea what you are talking about.

[@sidvicious3129]

@@jc51373 I don’t think, you know what you are saying here, did you read the comment. I was specifically talking about the gain on the LS series, not the Ref series, which I already knew didn’t have a gain stage and I never mentioned a gain stage on the Ref series. I was talking about upgrading to a Ref preamp for upgrading, not due to any gain stage. Please read first and make comments later for your own clarification.

[@jc51373]

@@sidvicious3129 nice editing job

[@mikecees2230]

The remote is ''cheezy''?!!! Come on Steve, be reasonable, I mean what do you expect for $10,000?

[@ar_xiv]

About the volume control--and this might be heresy for such an expensive preamp--but you can get inline 12dB RCA attenuators from Harrison Labs. It gives you what you're wishing for there. I got some to use with an old Hafler preamp which had a hiss, independant of the volume control, which I could cut out completely with the attenuators. Magic!

[@gurdyman1]

I've both their attenuators and their inline crossovers and think both are great.

[@ptg01]

I do know STEVE does his best to let people know the price points early on... Each of us has our own budget constraints.

[@dougg1075]

Should do the dishes also:) Beautiful piece of gear Steve. Would love to see some Conrad Johnson stuff.

[@RonRivet]

I acquired an SP14 about 8 months ago and I really like it.

[@helgar791]

I still my old SP-14 in a box in my closet. A Reference 2SE is my current phono stage. I have a Pass Labs XP-20 as my line stage, and I've found they work well together. A nice review, but it's always fun to watch, read or listen to myself struggle to explain what differences are heard. Living longer with a piece does however help.

[@pala23mj]

So happy you are doing this. I am looking at picking this up to match up with my bryston power amp. Curious to hear your thoughts on this pre! Lets go!!

[@brucemitchell5092]

I loved ARC in the 90’s and early 00’s. The LS-7 was a very nice entry level preamp, and then VT-50 & 100 and some of their solid state amps could be wonderful. Real high end products. It’s a shame to see ARC become completely unaffordable to the average audiophile with offerings like this.

[@ChrisMag100]

I’ve got an LS7. It’s not as transparent as other modern preamps I’ve had in my system including the Modwright SWL 9.0, Parasound JC2 BP, etc. However, it’s a very nice sounding preamp.

[@JingoLoBa57]

I have an LS10SE upgraded solid state preamp. Fully balanced… beats my PassLabs XP20 SE for musicality and depth. Drives my Luxman M900u really well. Synergy perfect 👍 and it brings the Ref CD9 to life, beautifully.

[@carlosbauza1139]

Fabulous review! Good to know the reviewer's love affair with the brand. Value is entirely subjective.

[@xstensl8823]

i bought the LS 22 but traded it in for a Audible Illusions 3A. much better, also had a SP11, i still think the SP10 was one the best Pre's i have ever heard

[@mkwilson38]

Phase invert is invaluable in my system. But it’s currently a function in my DAC rather than preamp.

[@wildcat1065]

Nobody does preamps as well as Arc. I had a Ref 3 now a Ref 6. Bliss. Big on detail and spaciousness, thunderous bass power and great musicality. The power amps are another matter, I find them a little sterile and un-involving.

[@andyanderson3352]

William Z Johnson passed away in Rancho Mirage Ca at Thunder Bird country club.

[@bolsesolheim7469]

My Nagra Pre has a tube time counter ! My six Audio Power Labs 50 TNT mono Class A Lundahl equipped power amps all have got tube time counters ! My four Audio Power Labs TNT 833 also have the time Counter installed and shown on a nice display! I got a lot of Faberge like Hardware with the largest collection of these wonders worldwide! They all make the Wavacs sound like kitchen products! The cost of a pair of The Oil cooled 833 amps is a mere $ 175 000 and worth every penny! Dr Solheim Norway!

[@beslemeto]

Hi Steve!I really like your videos sir!I have a question.Which tube preamplifier is the best you have ever heard? :)

[@HiFiFilos]

hola Sr. steve, vengo de vivir digital, no tenia el gusto de conocerle, empezare a ver sus videos, saludos.

[@steveluck9541]

I built Carfrae little Big Horn replicas to use on a integrated valve amp, then found I could barely get the volume knob past 9 o’clock position. The answer was to solder resistors Across the volume pot halving the input signal. If you have pre and power set up you can put attenuators on the interconnects. More expensive fostex make transformers attenuators that go between power amp and speaker. Lack of fine volume adjustment can be a pain. Bottle head kits have fine and coarse stepped controls for this. Time for a video on volume pots and all the different types.

[@hugobloemers4425]

They have rolled up condoms around the tubes, do they really think that helps? Oh, talking about tubes, I would have loved to know what tubes they are, type and manufacturer. And I assume they are quad matched or else you would have to instruct what goes where (if it is two times dual matched).

[@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac]

6H30, Russian

[@JohnDoe-np3zk]

I pulled the condoms off my tubes and they sound cleaner and looser

[@Ineedtotakeabreak]

John Doe Did they reproduce?

[@JohnDoe-np3zk]

@@Ineedtotakeabreak they sure tried. Adding new meaning to the term "tube rolling"?

[@Hare_deLune]

@@gmccoy4636 Some people use hose clamps. The idea is to cut down on the tube vibrating, which makes the sound clearer and cleaner, and if I'm not mistaken, also more transparent. Also, to act as a kind of heat sink, so the tube runs cooler and lasts longer. The problem is that hose clamps are too thin to be very effective at either of those things, and rubber rings are just a joke. Best thing I've seen is the Mapleshade Tube Crowns and Halos. I don't have direct experience with them, but they look like they would work well.

[@gregNFL]

... and another book for my collection.Did not realize it was in print.

[@bluelithium9808]

Get a Pung Foo power cable for it, it tightens up its bass. Make sure it's the oxygen free version of the cable, oxygen softens up the treble too much.

[@lookbacktime9422]

Son Of Dave - very interesting! Thank you!

[@matiasmov1]

I recommend doing the reviews with more images of the audio equipment.

[@tms372]

Is the LS28 much better than the LS26 ? Thinking of up grading but the cost is tough.

[@billd9667]

OMG, it goes past 11!?

[@JEG6919]

Weren't they bought out by some group?

[@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac]

Were, but now in private hands.

[@PlaybackMansion]

Too bad Nelson Pass never put tubes in a linestage

[@navinadv]

The 14 and 30 were an excellent combination.

[@StephaneVorstellung]

Son of Dave sounds cool. For anyone who doesn't know this already, If you are looking for contemporary blues and don't want artists who are imitations of themselves (or their genre), look for artists recording on Fat Possum. They even have two comps available titled Not the Same Old Blues Crap, volumes one and two. Mississippi blues, a lot of it of hill-country ilk droning, minimal chord changes, boogie and second-line style rhythms. Buy it now, these are old dudes: T Model Ford, Junior Kimbrough, I don't know if Jesse Mae Hemphill and R.L. Boyce, are on that label or not but they are in that same region. For real, you won't be sorry.

[@arte2arquiteto]

Two of these got you a Lamborghini Miura in 1966...

[@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac]

Right , when $500 would buy some of the best electronics on the planet. And if you made $15K a year you were doing well.

[@Mark-lq3sb]

@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac So true Steve, my father was a union electrical worker for 40 years (new construction.) I recall him telling me around 1966 pay scale in the IBEW Local 1 was around $8.00 to 9.00 dollars an hour. Today, into the $30+ dollar an hour range.

[@charlesgrubbs2101]

And one of these would get you 2 1/2 Lotus Europas in 1970.

[@kevinw.weiser9820]

I loved my AR preamp but my remote was also low quality plastic that bit the dust after a too short time period and the support I got was basically, Oh, really? Gee that's to bad. Sorry, we don't have a replacement and we don't repair them, maybe you can find a univeral remote...good luck!

[@francisisrael6725]

hi steve.. luv your videos.. just a quick question since im still new on this. can i set up reisong bayuu tube amp to an amplifier and still get a tube sound?

[@BanBiofuels]

The best system I ever heard had a base Audio Research tube preamp combined with a class AB MOSFET power amp. Systems that use tubes for both power amp and preamp have too much tube sound for me. Too much of a good thing.

[@andydogdixon1]

Yesterday, found an authorized audio research dealer that has a black ls28se demo. They want to move it for $8000. They’ve demoed it in their shop for 90 days and it has about 200 hours on it. They said it will come with the full audio research three-year warranty. I might go ahead with this purchase tomorrow.

[@ChrisMag100]

Did you buy it? If so, how do mmm do you like it?

[@MrDavloyken]

I’ve listened to this preamp in my home system and strongly considering it. However, I would like to know how it compares to previous Reference preamps by ARC?

[@ChrisMag100]

I did a direct comparison between the Ref 5 SE and the LS28SE. I preferred the LS and bought one. The LS28SE was faster sounding, has better features (auto-shutoff, input naming) and is cheaper to maintain because is has one fewer 6H30 and no 6550 power tube (2000 hour rated life). The Ref 5SE had a sense of deeper sound stage but was less defined in terms of placement of instruments.

[@klaymoon1]

So, did you buy the review unit?

[@ItsaRomethingeveryday]

I've never had a Pre-Amp, I once had a silver series DC Integrated amp from Techniques, Liked Vid, this looked really nice, a bit spendy tho Currently using an 8500 series two pioneer amp from 1977, in unrestored all original equipment, only the orange lamp on the power switch is out, otherwise prestine condition yet

[@miguelbarrio]

I -always- worry about leaving my tube amp on!!!

[@stimpy1226]

That's the one component I don't think needs to be left on. Especially if it's tubes.

[@PDCRed]

$10k and only 3 years warranty? I'd want 5 minimum. Are they not confident enough in the durability of their products?

[@martinvegas1327]

It's the life of the tubes bro, 4000 hours!

[@PDCRed]

@@martinvegas1327 so limit the warranty to only 3 years on the tubes only?

[@hugobloemers4425]

Buy a Kia.

[@dksculpture]

I use an AR preamp that I bought new in 1984. Still using the original tubes too! I think it had a 3 year warranty.

[@martinvegas1327]

@@PDCRed True

[@quantumdave1592]

Volume range was deal breaker for me...unacceptable. Attenuater should be standard like they offered on some older models...LS 25 or 26?

[@louiesipes2257]

Son of Dave(Benjamin Darvill) was in Crash Test Dummies

[@maximo90019]

Yeaaaaaaaa, finally! An Audio Research Review!!! I was starting to think didn’t rate the brand

[@stuartneil8682]

103!!!! Don’t tell Spinal Tap.

[@nicolasjan1584]

What's the difference between an amp and a pre_amp?

[@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac]

Good question! The preamp is the "control center" of the system, it has a volume control, and inputs for analog and sometimes digital sources. It handles initial amplification (gain), the power amp doesn't usually have any controls, but produces the power (watts) required to play speakers as loud as you want. Integrated amplifiers combine preamp and power amp functions in one chassis.

[@johngutmanis3580]

Hi Nicolas, an amp just amplifies a signal that comes from the preamp, the preamp takes signals from other sources and sends them to the amp. A receiver has an apm,preamp and tuner all built in the same box. An integrated amp has a preamp and amp in the same box. hope that helps.

[@tcalixto4v]

Steve, try to get Nagra gear, pre/power or integrated. You will be pleasantly surprised.

[@josexavierjr.5633]

Great work Steve, I enjoyed your review, and really enjoyed looking at that wonderful preamp. $10,000? Hopefully if I win the Lotto.................

[@lyndonramchatesingh105]

Hi Steve guttenberg what's ur best receiver n who would u prefer between denon or Yamaha

[@IKnewMickey]

lyndon ramchatesingh Yamaha audio is very decent and lasts for ever.

[@lyndonramchatesingh105]

Hi Steve if u would compare Yamaha to denon x3600 with imax enhanced would u still go with Yamaha it would be for both music and movies and using Dali oberon 5 speakers

[@alexanderboehm80]

Great. Shirt. = > Need One!

[@Hare_deLune]

Keep checking the merch bar under the videos.

[@alexanderboehm80]

Hare deLune = > ordered!

[@Hare_deLune]

@@alexanderboehm80 : D

[@ronniefranks4351]

If you think the inside is beautiful, you should look inside a Klyne preamp. Way less expensive too.

[@jimomertz]

When you review something at this level, you really need speakers that can deliver more detail than the Cornwalls. You’re missing a lot of the total potential!

[@iampuzzleman282]

Aren’t tubes expensive? When using in ht bypass tubes always on, seems wasteful and expensive. Tubes may last a yr , 4000 hrs, since tv on more than stereo. Is this a concern??

[@rvpl9264]

What does Fully Balanced mean in this case? ⚖️

[@ChrisMag100]

Some preamps are single-ended only, some designs are single ended designs with balanced connections which convert balanced to single ended by grounding one of the pins, some circuits are fully balanced all the way through.

[@scottengh1175]

I am from and back in Minnesota. $10k pre-amps are out of my value range. That price does make my overindulgence of another love not seem so crazy. Nope. Both are crazy.

[@quantumdave1592]

BYW...the AR takes a 100 hours or so to open up, just wish volume range was more usable.

[@hagbard72]

$10k, time to move on.

[@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac]

See ya, bye!

[@wa2368]

Steve and all his channel minions like myself are millionaires and billionaires with all kinds of tax breaks freeloading on the poor working taxpayer's titty. We can easily afford all this stuff Robert (wink wink).

[@rig4365]

Start saving young man!

[@hagbard72]

@@rig4365 Can't turn back the clock.

[@hagbard72]

@@wa2368 Kinda figured that.

[@earlygail]

“Diddle by hand”- when all else fails!

[@stimpy1226]

PASS Is amazing, unfortunately tubes give you a feeling of air and reality that is slight but very noticeable. I own a PASS Preamp now but my Audible illusions Modules 3B with a very simple design had that air that the past does not

[@adc4392]

....and the LS28 is not even the top of the line Preamp from Audio Research, imagine the emotion transferred via the Ref6!

[@jonathanmoore8886]

Been a big fan of them for awhile. Alas the price tag is a little to much.

[@rhwinner]

I want one.... :)

[@joybrucebruce3377]

Did you go Conrad Johnson to try that tube romanticism. Those seem to be the iconic name in best old iconic USA names in tube audio.

[@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac]

Yes, I had CJ preamps and amps.

[@martinvegas1327]

Quality preamp, i have the cd6se it sounds nice with Focal utopia and a pass labs hpa 1!

[@jn3750]

Beat McIntosh?

[@ChrisMag100]

Everything I’d relative. I took my LS28SE over to a friend’s place last week. Compared to the built-in preamp in his MA7200, there was no contest. The amount of detail, air and overall soundstage size was on another level.

[@mikeday62]

I'm not real picky so I'm sure this AR or any McIntosh would sound better than my single tube Behringer preamp.

[@forzapro1978]

Is marantz HD AMP1 any good amplifier? I just bought one.

[@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac]

I never heard it, so I can’t say. I hope you enjoy it!

[@chriswelljack4910]

If the remote work why not use it I dont get the gripe .how about if the remote is awesome and the unit sound like shit?

[@23x31]

At best, there's about $200 worth of parts in this thing (if that)......right?

[@Hare_deLune]

So build one! Oh, but good luck with the circuit board design...

[@23x31]

@@Hare_deLune That might be easier than you think as the design and technology is not exactly high tech. Looks like it was engineered in 1970.

[@Hare_deLune]

@@23x31 HH Scott amps were designed in the 1950's, and by all accounts, sound fantastic.

[@PetraKann]

I would buy a hi quality set of headphones. The pre-amp section is the critical part of the signal amplification process. It is the section which imparts colour and textures and tonalities to the eventual sound. This is the case n guitar amplifiers. The amp characteristics and uniqueness is in the pre amp section. The power amp section merely further amplifies these characteristics that emerge from the pre amp. But if you look at a electric guitar sound, about 90% of the “sound” characteristics are generated prior to the amplifier. The guitar players techniques, finger and strumming styles, the pick ups, string gauge etc. guitar pre amp is about 5% maybe 8%. Fanatical audiophiles with huge bank account are often like people who buy expensive sports cars, Porsche, Lamborghini Maserati etc. they usually can’t drive very well. Nothing wrong with that attitude and approach. They are more like collectors and technology enthusiasts rather than people who are keen on the creative aspects of music and composition (sometimes these pursuits overlap) But A cheap CD player or an mp4 player and an expensive set of headphones and use the thousands of dollars saved on buying music or whiskey or going in holidays in Greece or Fiji

[@charlesgrubbs2101]

I guess you haven't seen his rack of headphones. It looks like he has a dozen pairs or more. And many audiophiles spend big dollars on their systems because the do appreciate the music much more when it is superbly reproduced. An cheap MP4 source just won't cut it, even when played through expensive headphones.

[@PetraKann]

@@charlesgrubbs2101 In some cases that is true. But generally its like the fanatical sports car enthusiast - they spend a lot of money of sports cars but cant drive very well. You can be a audiophile and have modest taste in music. And there are audiophiles that a motivated by the sound rather than the music. People who buy "The Dark Side of the Moon" by Pink Floyd just to play it on their expensive sound systems, but dont like Pink Floyd, or appreciate the music on the recording. We also have the situation where conductors of world renowned Symphonic orchestras and well known musicians have fairly modest sound systems at home, but a massive library of music. It's just personal preference and what sort of hobbies people pursue. I understand that. Personally I wouldn't pay $2,000 for a pre-amp let alone $10,000 or $30,000. For a spatial soundscape at home, I would invest in a nice pair of speakers with a reasonable dynamic range and a reliable amplifier with acceptable S/N ratio. Headphones are a great investment. I have a flat Bang Olufsen Tuner-Amplifier which I bought second hand in the early 1980s with two Jensen speakers. 40 years on, and I still use it as my main home sound system. The only valve technology I possess are my 3 guitar amplifiers. (one of which is a solid state/valve hybrid amplifier). I only just subscribed to this channel and I was absolutely flummoxed at the cost of some of this audio gear. A $10k pre-amp that delivers 2.3W per channel? I decided to look up the price of the XP30 referred to and was flabbergasted at the price tag. I live in Australia, and the price was of the order of a new car. And if you invest in an amplifier of this quality and cost, you will also need to spend a lot of money on speakers and on the playback medium. I see extremely wealthy musicians with modest sound systems at home - that tells me everything I need to know about how to set up a reasonably good sound system at home. Cheers

[@JK-rt2jj]

What’s the point in buying such a complex and expensive volume controlling, function selecting tube sound enhancer without decent tone controls? I really don’t get that.

[@ar_xiv]

while I agree, it's all about singles at this price point

[@MrBumrah123]

Tone controls....lol

[@yyams]

I hate to have ti say it, but people (and google) know how to spell patreon by now:)

[@IKnewMickey]

jjams IKR 😂

[@rainman3269]

The valves on a PCB board .... No point to point wiring .... 🤭

[@edwardbalboa5528]

Yes.... It's high end low end money grabber

[@amritjanardhanan]

These looks miles bettter than the Mcintosh stuff lol

[@Mark-lq3sb]

It's obvious that half of the commenters are clueless to what an audio equipment reviewers job is. Steve isn't here to review only low cost audio equipment {which by the way he has done on many, many occasions.) Their job is to provide a *wide verity* of reviews, including high priced equipment. Personally, I don't care if I can or can't afford that piece of equipment. I'm an audio equipment fan and I enjoy hearing about all price range audio equipment. Those of you who are nay-sayers, whiners and Debbie downers would have a real fit if he brought in Audio Research's top of the line two piece preamp that sells for $30,000. Just stop whining about your financial situation in life, nobody cares.