I agree. After rolling through a number of OK pres. I find the First Sound to make a very big improvement. Preamplifiers are very important. The First Sound made me realize that the others were various types of "pleasant", but they weren't revealing anything new in the music.
That Transformational piece of Gear We All Wish For
I suspect most of the music/audio lovers on this web site have wished for that piece of gear that literally transforms their system? I know i have. I have been going down this audio rabbit hole since the mid 70’s, and there have been a few pieces that made a really nice improvement to my system (the PS Audio P20 Power plant being one of them). However (and this comment only applies to pre-amps and amps and no other category), nothing that I can ever recall has so energized and improved my system in so many ways as my new pre-amp. I have owned some really fine brands in the past including Pass, Coda, ARC, PS Audio, Rowland, and more, but now I am a BAT Man for sure. The new pre-amp is the BAT VK-80 and I love that beast. I hope everyone reading this will get a chance someday to try one in their system. I know he is a controversial figure, but Kevin Deal's review of this piece is so right on. He really loves it too and rightfully so. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iv2swa55JXo
My system consists of:
Thiel 3.7 speakers
Coda 16 power amp
PS Audio DSD DAC MK II
PS Audio Perfect Wave transport
PS Audio P20 power plant
BAT VK 80 preamp