Preamp Upgrade: Puffin vs Lounge Audio LCR Mkiii

Give it a try. You can always return it if you don’t like it better than the Lounge. Like anything else the proof is in the pudding!

I've never heard the Lounge Audio piece, but I sold one of my Musical Surroundings Nova Phonomenas and kept the Puffin.  Not that I think it was better than the Phonomena.  It isn't, mostly because it doesn't have as many loading options.  Other phono stages I have to compare it to are the Jolida JD-9 and Manley Chinook.   I think it sounds as good as the JD-9 and maybe as good, or within spitting distance of the Nova Phonomena, both of which are more expensive.  It has more gain options than most phono stages and I've used it with both MM and LOMC cartridges and it has worked great with both.

The old Puffin looks like it was a nice design.  I can't for the life of me figure out why they went digital.  Anyway, the Cornet3 may be the closest available alternative.