Best solid state pre-amp below US $ 10.000,00 ??

I tried five highly regarded pre-amps, three tubed and two SS, and bought the Placette dual mono active line stage because it was terrific in my system. Money was not an issue, my budget was up to 15grand, however I consider this piece a total bargain at $4500,00. It is sold direct and would be a least another 4 or 5 thousand if sold in retail stores

Frankpiet, the pre-amps that I compared the Placette to were, ML-32 reference, Weytech Opal linestage, Hovland, Lamm reference, and Ayre. None of them were bad by any means, but with my gear synergy was the best with the Placette and matched my personnal taste. As far as the Placette website, just go to the manufacturer's list here on the GON and it will give you the address. Hope this helps.

Frankpiet, when I first saw the Placette dual mono active line stage, I to also thought it was an "ugly ducking" untill I heard its sonic's in my system, than it became a "swan" in my eyes. I just paraphrased John Mark's words from his Absolute Sound reveiw were he gave the Placette one of the Golden Ear awards for that year. I have no idea were your coming from regarding its build quality, the inside parts/layout/consruction are world class and the chassis is well built, just not very pretty. My prior reference was a Mark Levinson 32 reference which was a great pre-amp and delightful "eye candy" but could not sonicly compete with the Placette in my system. So, my question, asked with respect, why would you not listen to this piece if you had it at home, instead of writing it off without any real audtion in your system? I also did listen to the Chapter pre-amp, it was not in my sytem but a system I was used to and found it to be good, but not on the same level of performance as the Placette. It would be great to hear your response. Thanks.

Frankpiet, thanks for responding to my inquiry, but you did not answer my question regarding the build quality statement that you made about the Placette that was negative. Not if you find its looks acceptable, but its parts and construction. By the way are you an audiophile or a mouse, to let your wife stand in the way of a home audtion, never! Just KIDDING. I'm just very interested why you did not a least listen to the piece, since you had it at home. I don't think I ever brought home something to audtion that I didn't listen to just because of the way it looked.