What qualities stand out in really good solid state preamps?

@hilde45 I want my SS preamp to not add anything to the sound. I have 3 preamps and 2 of then adhere to the non-additive principle.

• Benchmark LA4 (30-day home trial)
• Holo Serene

You are not going to find anything quieter than these 2, except the much lower quality Topping pre90 (I also owned it). There was an online review somewhere that compared the 2 units. The reviewer preferred the Serene over the LA4 though he was splitting hairs. I prefer the better functionality and the slighter more neutral sound of the LA4. Both are exactly what I want in a SS preamp.

I also have the latest Schitt Mjolnir preamp (Class A). It is supposed to be their best ever preamp. I used to have the Freya+ and I like the Mjolnir much more than the Freya+. I use the Mjolnir with the Schitt Aegir amp for my RAAL headphones (or I used to, not sure if that will continue).

The Mjolnir is a good preamp that adds color where as the other 2 are great preamps.

A SS preamp that is tube like is the CODA 07x preamp (sort of like the Mjolnir). I owned that at the same time as the LA4. I decided that I wanted neutrality over tubiness in my 2-channel rigs. I use tubes on headphones (why the Mjolnir may not be needed anymore).

@hilde45 After either listening or owning for a while about 1/2 dozen preamps, I found that warm preamps that add extra euphonic sound is unsatisfying to me, preamps such as a Coda 07x, Luxman c900u.

My goal is to let the preamp produce the sound of the amp, source, and cables without adding to the mix. My current Livingroom system has a warm amp with a slightly warm speaker. Adding a warm preamp to this would be a disaster for me.

Interestingly, my friend who is a huge tube guy and is currently building a tube preamp (to sell) that is going to cost more than any gear I own, loved my SS Holo Serene preamp connected to a SS CODA #16 amp. He was really hearing the CODA #16 + source + speakers. He was comparing my Livingroom speaker to speakers that were $600k 17 years ago.

In my office I have a Benchmark LA4 connected to a Sanders Magtech amp and Magnepan LRS+ speakers. The LRS+ is more on the neutral side, I let the Sanders dictate the sound of this system. For me that is easier to get the sound correct with less additions to the sonics.

The most satisfying thing for me was getting the positive feedback of my friend who is straight shooter and loved both systems. I told him before he came over to bring over a great tube preamp to my place because I thought he would hate my preamps. In the past, he hated some of my prior gear and told me issues I had with my small office system.

BTW - I sold my friends tube headphone amp to buy the Sanders Magtech. Now that I earned enough cash I bought back the tube headphone amp. I am not averse to tubes.

My gear on the Livingroom system is the following (excluding preamps):

• Yamaha NS5000 speaker (amazing)
• CODA #16
• Benchmark DAC3B
• Audience FrontRow speaker cable (amazing)
• Benchmark XLR between the preamp and amp
• Audience AU24SE XLR/ RCA interconnects for sources

The most impressive piece in the setup is the Yamaha by a massive margin. I can improve in the other gear relatively easily, Though the other gear is very good.

I would agree that the gear that the preamp is connected to is what is making this system sound good. I used to have the LA4 preamp in the mix instead of the Serene. The LA4 actually fits better in the space I have for the audio gear. However, the Serene lacks Left and Right balance which I need with the LRS+.

Switching the Serene with the LA4 did not make much of a difference in the sound. The LA4 is a bit cleaner and the Serene a bit warmer. However, those difference are minor compared to the similarities.

"palpable presence" = definitely.

I may be interested in selling my Serene to buy another LA4 or HPA4. The LA4 can be physically fit better in my audio space. Unfortunately, I tossed the Holo shipping box since I figured I would keep the preamp forever. The LA4 and Serene are inter-changeable to me.

• tone - must be natural 
• dynamic range - must be able to sound laid back and gentle but scale up to explosive forces fast, as fast as demanded by the recording 
• low noise floor
• Texture in the bass
• warm and palpable mids
• extended and sweet highs
• nice, non-clicking silent volume control (want to be able to adjust volume without hearing any clicking or other artifacts)
• must image well and create a realistic and colorful soundstage

These are the attributes are what I look for in an amp, except the clicking volume.

I have 2 great preamp volume controls and like the clicking one the best. Though a smooth heavy wheel volume control is luxurious.

BTW - The new SimAudio North Collection seems to have a very advanced remote volume.

I am a big fan of Schitt gear. My second headphone stack is Schitt based as is my main DAC for 2-channel. However, the Schitt SYS is not one of their better efforts. It is not a clean window into the music. Less is less in this case. I have my SYS gathering dust in a box somewhere.