Top ten tube preamps

I have owned and listened to many a preamp over the past 5-7 years and the Tube Research Labs (TRL) Dude tube preamp ranks #1 by a very wide margin. This is based on my ears and gear over the years. It can be purchased for $3800 brand new and has to be the best value in all of high end audio. At least one of them :-)

Here are the others I have owned. The best of this group was the CJ LS16 V2, Thor TA1000 and Audio Horizons 2.1 fully loaded with all the possible upgrades. As you can tell I like tube preamps!

Audio Horizons TP2.1 fully loaded
Joule LA100 MKIII
Conrad Johnson LS16 V2
Thor 1000 MK2
Tom Evans Vibe
Supratek Cortese
Supratek Syrah
Audio Note m5
Wavac PR-X1
Rowland Concerto
Rowland Capri
Cary SLP98
Aesthetix Calypso
Tube Distinctions SoulMate
Placette passive
Wright Sound WLA 12A
Aloia 11.01
Belles 21A
Rogue 99

Buy the Dude for the sound as the fit and finish are good or OK, but not like a CJ etc... With the Dude it's all about the sound. It completely changed my audio experience by delivering music in a way that is so effortless, dynamic and at ease. I had thought this experience was simply not possible with electronics.

Never feel the need to try another.

SAS 11A
SAS 10A
Audio Valve Eklipse
Kora Eclipse
Bryston BP-26
Adcom 750

While the CJ-PV12 would not rate in the top ten, it is the best Jazz Pre I have ever heard. When you drop some NOS RCA tubes in it, the horns take on a golden glow.

I likewise own a Giscours and it is a keeper for life. It is a musical instrument. Uncanny.