if on a budget the black cube is nice for the price. i just switched from my black cube to a preamp w/phono stage that a friend of mine suggested i try. it is an old advent 300. it contains a tuner, preamp and amp. the tuner is actually ok. i have not used it's amp, but it's phono stage imho smoked the cube. this piece is an anomally(sp) of sorts. some "famous" engineer whose name i dunno designed it. i think in the prehistoric 1970's. comparing it to the cube:
the cube added a solid state edge to my system (melos tube preamp used with an audionics of oregon/david berning designed ba-150 tube amp, rega 3, grado reference master cartridge, old (and venerable) kef series 105.2 spkrs). i pulled it out and went to this $150.00 advent and voila! no more edge and all the detail/soundstage/clear mids etc etc etc that i found attractive in the black cube. smooth sound. good luck!!
the cube added a solid state edge to my system (melos tube preamp used with an audionics of oregon/david berning designed ba-150 tube amp, rega 3, grado reference master cartridge, old (and venerable) kef series 105.2 spkrs). i pulled it out and went to this $150.00 advent and voila! no more edge and all the detail/soundstage/clear mids etc etc etc that i found attractive in the black cube. smooth sound. good luck!!