I have an AES AE3 DJH preamplifier, and agree with those who say it's a superior component.
I bought it on the recommendation of my friends The Doctor (Mechans) and Joe (Slipknot1), two of the more discerning audiophiles I know, who both told me that with the Consonance Cyber 800 monoblocks The Doctor was using, the sound was reference level.
In my own systems, the AE3 has proven to possess a good combination of dynamics, punch, gain, and lushness. Pretty much exactly what I wanted out of a tube preamplifier. It proved a fabulous complement to my Atma Sphere M60 monoblocks as well as a few other amps I've paired it with. Reliability has proven excellent as well. The only nits I can come up with are related to the remote, if that is important to you (it's not to me) - the remote does not offer the ability to change inputs and the mute function reduces the sound to a fairly low level, but nothing close to silence. But, again, it's a no-brainer component for those audiophiles who put sonics as their number one priority.
I bought it on the recommendation of my friends The Doctor (Mechans) and Joe (Slipknot1), two of the more discerning audiophiles I know, who both told me that with the Consonance Cyber 800 monoblocks The Doctor was using, the sound was reference level.
In my own systems, the AE3 has proven to possess a good combination of dynamics, punch, gain, and lushness. Pretty much exactly what I wanted out of a tube preamplifier. It proved a fabulous complement to my Atma Sphere M60 monoblocks as well as a few other amps I've paired it with. Reliability has proven excellent as well. The only nits I can come up with are related to the remote, if that is important to you (it's not to me) - the remote does not offer the ability to change inputs and the mute function reduces the sound to a fairly low level, but nothing close to silence. But, again, it's a no-brainer component for those audiophiles who put sonics as their number one priority.