I've owned all manner of production tube preamps.
Lamm
ARC
CJ
deHavilland
Audible Illusions
BAT
Cary
I am currently using a Don Sachs preamp which is certainly about as boutique as they come. I never compared it directly with any of the above, as it replaced a passive LDR preamp that I had at the time. But I can say that it is a fine sounding preamp and I have no desire to go back to any of the big name companies.
As @blackdoghifi talks about above, customization is a big part of going with the little guys. It's not cookie cutter and you can get what you want. And most of the time, you get better parts quality than what you get with the big guys.
Oz
Lamm
ARC
CJ
deHavilland
Audible Illusions
BAT
Cary
I am currently using a Don Sachs preamp which is certainly about as boutique as they come. I never compared it directly with any of the above, as it replaced a passive LDR preamp that I had at the time. But I can say that it is a fine sounding preamp and I have no desire to go back to any of the big name companies.
As @blackdoghifi talks about above, customization is a big part of going with the little guys. It's not cookie cutter and you can get what you want. And most of the time, you get better parts quality than what you get with the big guys.
Oz