To my ears the preamp is the make-or-break component in my system. A good match expands the soundstage and makes instruments appear more solidly defined in space, with tone colors and timbre faithfully reproduced….a bad one sounds flatter and more grainy. I discovered long ago that the preamp sections of well regarded Japanese brands were the weak link holding back the amp sections of Sansui, Pioneer, and Sony integrateds. That’s why I’ve never owned one, always preferring separates, even economical ones like Dynaco, Crown, and DB Systems. Then I discovered Conrad-Johnson.
