Looking for the best reference solid state and tube preamps for your high-end system? E-mail us or call The Palace today that we have reference preamps starting $995 to well over $33,000. We are experts with over 20 years of experience selling reference preamps. Call The Palace today at 786 388-8050.

Photography work shot in high-resolution by by Larry Diaz for High-End Palace.

Balanced Audio Technology

Now shipping the brand new BAT VK-52SE Reference Tube Preamp offering and all new SUPER PAK power supplies, dual SIX-PAK oil capacitors, NOS 6H30 Super Tubes, dual transformers, fully balanced zero feedback design that provides a transparent, dynamic sound with superb resolution. This new VK-52SE provides a huge improvement sonically over the previous generation VK-51SE. The new Balanced Audio Technology preamps are regarded as one of the best preamps available in the high-end audio world. Link to the BAT's website.

Contact The Palace for your BAT REX, VK-52SE, 42SE, 32SE, VK-20, VK-3ix & standard versions!

TRADE-INS AVAILABLE!

Photography work shot in high-resolution by by Larry Diaz for High-End Palace.

     First Sound is regarded as the best, the purest tube preamps available in high-end audio. First Sound is a specialty product company that only makes hand made reference tube preamps and they have it mastered down to perfection.

All True Dual Mono Class A First Sound preamps offers: Massive array of power supplies unlike anything you ever seen in any preamp, point to point wiring, superior grounding topology, oversized transformers, premium and exotic custom made capacitors, mute and input selector controls for each channel and hand-crafted volume controls attenuators with selected Holco or Vishay resistors for the left and right channels. Available in silver, black or gold brushed aluminum faceplates.

There are seven models to choose from starting with the 60 pounds Presence Deluxe Mk II with one outboard power supply, the next four models are 100 pounds preamps with dual outboard power supplies. The last two models you are looking at the Paramount Statement and Paramount Statement SE, they have separate left and right control chassis plus two power supplies for the left and two for the right, that's a total of six chassis for create a true world class reference tube preamp. The 180 pounds Statement's are the ultimate signal path reference tube preamp made in the world, the end of the road in reference tube preamps. Link to the First Sound website.

 

First Sound reference CLASS A tube preamps are priced from $4200.00 to $33,600.00. There is a waiting list for them so please be patient, contact The Palace to place your order.

AUTHORIZE FIRST SOUND DEALER

Audio notes about reference preamps from Larry at The Palace:

     In the 20 years that I have been selling high-end audio I have sold, owned, seen and heard the best high-end preamps in the world, tube and solid state designs ranging between $2500.00 to over $90,000.00 from all the major high-end manufactures in world.

In all these years I have learned that no one preamp is perfect to any audiophile, specially one as picky as myself. For example: Some preamps have many features but provides a poor sound, some preamps provides a good sound but lacks looks, prestige, options,  etc, and there are a handful of preamps that are just simply pure reference and you know it from the minute you put it in your system.

     A good preamp to my taste has to be deadly quite, I can't stand a noisy preamp, it must have an extremely low noise floor, it must be dynamic, fast, robust, it must be extremely liquid, smooth, organic and captivating so that I can to feel the performance, the emotion, the experience of having the artist and the musicians alive in my listening room along with the reflections, ambiance and decays of the place where that recording took place. This preamp must provide an open stage, wide and deep with dead lock three dimensional airy images, the instruments and voices must interact with each other while retaining the perfect blend of warmth and neutrality, it must retain all the resolution with the fidelity given and it can not place any sonic signature to the signal going though it, no glaze, no tube coating, high frequency roll off, soft bass etc.

This preamp must provide air from the mid base and up, it must image outside of the speakers not just in the center so it can provide a life like experience, an open and natural presentation. Now, I can tell you that there are only a handful of preamps in the world that can do everything I mention and all of them are expensive, as a matter of fact most of them cost a pretty penny since perfection in anything in this world is expensive. I spent a lot of money and years searching for the sound that First Sound provides, after trying many preamps sometimes two and three at a time I came across First Sound by an old audiophile friend of mine that told me that he discovered something special, that he was bringing it by the house to listen and compare to what I had at the time, and like any other audiophile I love to audition new stuff, put my system to the test, see if I can get even closer to the music, to the event, the performance, improve my high-end system to the next level.

     First Sound is and has been my personal reference preamp for many years now in my personal music listening on a nightly basis. Sometimes I replace my First Sound by another preamp for a week or so and place my First Sound in the shelve bellow to enjoy the thrills and features of a new preamp because I love new toys in in my system and most of the time I return to the First Sound within days because I don't feel the music, the magic that I had with the First Sound is gone. Here are 10 reasons why it's extremely hard for most preamps to compete with the First Sound preamps:

 

1. The First Sound preamps have a minimum of 4 times the transformer size and more than 20 times the power supply reserve than other preamps. They have power supply reserve that other tube preamps can only dream of, an amazing 200,000 mfd for the Presence Deluxe Mk II, an astonishing 390,400 mfd from the Presence Deluxe 4.0 Mk II with Paramount upgrade and up to the Statement's, well, the Statement's are simply on another planet, they provide a whopping 1,120,000 mfd for the Paramount Statement and Paramount Statement SE. Power reserve improves music stability, stage presence, pin-point precision, fidelity and overall dynamics.

2. There are no complicated circuit boards on First Sound preamps, everything is point to point wiring, very short and direct traces and soldered to perfection to achieve the purest sound you have heard in your system. These Class A tube preamps provides a resolution that's untouchable!

3. True dual mono design with separate hand-crafted step attenuator volume controls and input selector for each channel. No remote! Unfortunately remotes degrades sound quality mo matter what approach is taken. I love remotes, who doesn't but if it means inferior performance "Forget about it!"

4. Pure Class A design that provides a liquid smooth sound.

5. Outboard power supply for lower noise floor.

6. Only two tubes on the signal path for simplicity and purity. The more tubes a preamp has the more tube masking and degradation of resolution you will have.

7. First Sound preamps are dead quiet even with your ear on top of the tweeter. These tube preamps have the lowest noise floor I have tested on any tube preamp, also the best grounding design I have seen.

8. Extremely reliable design due to it's simplicity and quality of parts, I have never and I mean never heard of a broken First Sound preamp and they have be making active preamps since 1992.

9. First Sound is a specialty product, they only make tube preamps and they have it mastered to perfection.

10. All First Sound preamps can be upgraded, you are not locked in with any given model.

 

     The bottom line is that so far no matter what preamp I have A/B with the First Sound it has always fallen short in performance so far, in most cases the sound degradation is so big that it makes me wonder what are audiophiles listening to out there. I tell you, finding perfect harmony in a high-end audio system can be a headache for most audiophiles. I do know that most of the components for sale and upgrades now days are done with no real knowledge or game plan of how to get to that perfect audio harmony that every audiophile is looking for.

There have been times that I have had two and three preamps in my listening room to play and compare because I love to do that, it keeps my golden ears sharp but at the end of the day when I want to be moved by my music I can guarantee you that the First Sound is in the chain playing my reference recordings.

 

Audio notes by,

Tel: 786 388-8050
E-mail: larry@highendpalace.com

When only the best tube preamp will do!

 

     For 16 years First Sound has been building true reference tube preamps out of Renton, Washington U.S.A. Each First Sound excels in uncovering subtle detail through an absence of background noise, pollution, grain and haze. With First Sound preamps you will capture the essence of music and the emotions of the performance, the music is left to appear in glorious relief against a noiseless backdrop.

 

First Sound unique features:

First Sound volume controls are hand-crafted using beefy 25 amp switches with 46 Holco resistors per attenuator in a ladder-type step configuration and in exact 2dB steps for each channel. The Paramount and above models use expensive ladder-type attenuators with all custom Vishay resistors for a sonic master piece.

 

• Pure Class A vacuum tube circuit with zero negative feedback

• Only two 6922 tubes in the signal path. (Comparable with 6DJ8 / ECC88 / 7308/ CCA's)

• Point to point wiring, no complicated circuit boards! Short and direct circuit traces.

• Vacuum tube power regulation

• Custom machined 3/8" custom long grain brushed aluminum faceplate

• Copper plated heavy gauge steel chassis, insuring maximum isolation from EMI/RFI interference.

• Each model features a Dual mono construction with an outboard power supply, with huge capacitive storage reserves, utilizing the highest-grade electrolytics bypassed with the best high-end caps available.

• Total power supply capacitance of 200,000 mfd for serious power reserve, provides overall music stability, better stage presence and improves pin-point precision.

• Extremely extended frequency range, 5Hz to 250kHz for a more natural sound at 20Hz to 20kHz, provides a rock solid bass and the most natural, open and smooth high frequency available.

 

First Sound has left no stone unturned in the quest of optimal performance, exploring every last tweak, in a search to uncover every last gram of performance. Each part and piece of the design is carefully chosen to synergize with all others. Even the torque used to affix the RCA connectors to the rear panel and the location of the feet under the unit were chosen for optimal performance! The quality of First Sound is the testament to the countless hours of listening and tuning that have been invested to offer audiophiles the best hand built tube preamp. First Sound builds there preamps to exacting standards utilizing top quality materials and techniques. Link to the First Sound website.

 

 

Specifications

 

Type: reference 2 channel tube preamplifier

Inputs: Six line-level inputs

Outputs: Two main outputs, one tape output

Frequency Response: 5Hz to 250kHz

Input Impedance: 150 kOhms

Absolute Phase: Inverting

Total Harmonic Distortion: less than 0.4% at 2V

Noise: Better than 91dB below 2V

Maximum gain: Greater than 15dB at 1kHz

Tube Complement: Two 6922 and two OA2

Maximum input: 7 Volts RMS

Dimensions (W x D x H in inches):
Main chassis: 19 x 14 x 5.5 
Power Supply: 7 x 11 x 5.5

Shipping Weight:
Paramount Statement: 159 lbs.
Paramount: 81 lbs.
Presence Deluxe 4.0: 78 lbs.
Presence Deluxe: 57 lbs.

 

The CARY SLP-05 photo above was shot in high-resolution by Larry Diaz for High-End Palace.

CARY SLP-05 

The stunning CARY SLP-05 Pure Balanced reference tube preamp is one of the best new preamps for 2006, it provided one of the best sound at the 2006 CES show in Las Vegas in with the Cary 306 SACD and the Cary CAD 211 Anniversary Edition/Cary CAD 500 MB Pure Balanced Mono Blocks. This gorgeous SLP-05 preamp has XLR's ins and outs, remote, vacuum tube power supply, killer headphone performance, eight 6SN7 tubes, VU meters, even theater pass though. This preamp is so good that is already regarded as one of the best tube preamps available in high-end audio. Available in silver or black anodized brushed aluminum faceplate with high-gloss Jaguar Anthracite black clear coat chassis. The new Cary Audio SLP 05 is a true state-of-the-art vacuum tube preamplifier for dedicated two channel high-end systems. In sound quality alone, it transcends all previous Cary Audio Design preamps and elevates both digital and analog sources to their full musical potential. Fully balanced design, full-featured, including vacuum tube headphone stage, along with vacuum tube power supply. The SLP 05 is the preamp of choice for exceptional sound that rivals live performance. A STEREOPHILE review is available in the September issue, Vol. 29 No.9. Link to CARY SLP-05 website.

We sell and export Cary components to Latin America and the Caribbean.

The CARY SLP-98 photo above was shot in high-resolution by Larry Diaz for High-End Palace.

CARY SLP-98 Anniversary Edition

The stunning SLP-98 AE Tube Preamp is available with the optional Jaguar Anthracite black chassis with clear coat finish and silver anodized aluminum faceplate shown on the photo above or in Jaguar Carnival red chassis with black anodized aluminum faceplate. This gorgeous masterpiece has only four 6SN7's on the signal path, built with point to point wiring using 1% Metal Film Resistors and Premium Quality Caps. Available as a line stage or with phono stage with remote and a massive external heavy duty outboard power supply. The SLP-98 represents the best affordable high-end tube preamp you can buy period. This gorgeous preamp is a current CLASS A Stereophile recommended component for many years. Link to Stereophile review. Link to CARY SLP-98 website.

We sell and export Cary components to Latin America and the Caribbean.

 

 

 

 

 

The CARY SLP-03 photos above was shot in high-resolution by Larry Diaz for High-End Palace.

CARY SLP-03

The gorgeous CARY SLP-03 Tube Preamp featuring: Pure balanced design with dual transformers, XLR's and RCA ins and outs, Theater pass though, killer headphone performance, Remote control, input selection and channel balance with all audio path signals are amplified through four 12AU7 vacuum tubes in a Class A zero feedback circuit. Available in silver or black anodized brushed aluminum faceplate. This preamp offers a superb package at just $2500.00 MSRP. Link to the CARY AUDIO website.

We sell and export Cary components to Latin America and the Caribbean.

mbl 6010D

Regarded by many reviewers and audiophiles as one of the best manufactures of solid state preamps in the world. All balance dual mono design with remotes. Precision reference preamp with optional Accuphase phono module, master metal remote, dual-mono balance construction with separate power supplies, custom teflon-based printed circuit boards, current feedback technology. True world class high-end preamps. Link to the new Accuphase full line brochure.

 

Contact The Palace for Accuphase preamps. Demos available!

 

 

 

The Steelhead was shot in high-resolution by Larry Diaz for High-End Palace.

The world's best and most advance phono tube preamp for analogue turntables, MM & MC with 0 to 1100 picofarads in 10 picofarad steps. This reference phono preamp is so good that it has been winning best sound at the shows year after year with the Manley REFERENCE Mono Blocks, a world class high-end product. 

 

Contact The Palace for the MANLEY STEELHEAD!

Mark Levinson 32 shot in high-resolution by Larry Diaz for High-End Palace.

10/10 MARK LEVINSON 32 REFERENCE PREAMP

Yes Sir! 10/10 Mark Levinson 32 in new conditions with metal remote, manual and dual boxes. This preamp world class preamp has 8 inputs, 5 RCA's, 3 XLR's. Output wise you have 2 XLR's, 2 RCA's plus one set of XLR's and 2 sets of RCA for recording. Sound wise this 32 is the best sounding preamp Mark Levinson has ever made, far superior to the 326S, 320S, 380S and 26S. Link to Mark Levinson's Website. Link to Mark Levinson Brochure. Link to Mark Levinson Specs .

 

Actual photo of the 10/10 BAT VK-31SE shot in high-resolution by Larry Diaz for High-End Palace.

Balanced Audio Technology

New conditions BAT VK-31SE with XLR's and RCA's ins and outs, theater PASS through, dual transformers, Oil Capacitors SUPER-PAK, POWER PACK, beautiful metal remote, box and manual. Call us that we make audiophiles dreams come through every day here at The Palace.

Actual photos of AYRE K-3x for sale. High-Resolution photography work of done by Larry Diaz for High-End Palace.

 

Ayre K-3x

Reference solid state preamp offering a zero negative feedback design, XLR/RCA inputs and outputs, outboard matching silver power supply in superb conditions. Remote, manual and original box.

Actual Mark Levinson 32 for sale shot in high-resolution by Larry Diaz for High-End Palace..

MARK LEVINSON 32 WITH MC/MM PHONO MODULES

Certified Trade-In Mark Levinson 32 with new MC/MM phono modules, metal remote, manual and dual boxes. This 32 is in excellent conditins as you can see on the photos above. Contact Larry at The Palace for more information.

 

Actual photos of the BAT VK-51SE shot in high-resolution by Larry Diaz for High-End Palace.

Balanced Audio Technology

Mint condition BAT VK-51SE World Class Reference Tube Preamp trade-ins with metal remote, manual and box. STEREOPHILE CLASS A Recommended Component for years. Regarded one of the top 10 Reference Tube Preamps in the world. All balanced Tube preamp with 5 XLR inputs and dual XLR outputs.

 

Actual 10/10 LS-25 for sale shot by Larry Diaz in high-resolution for High-End Palace.

audio research

Actual photos of the 10/10 Accuphase C-275V demo for sale shot in high-resolution by Larry Diaz for High-End Palace.

     We have a C-275V with phono available, contact us today! Trades welcome! The C-275V preamp with the optional Accuphase phono module is regarded as one of the best full function preamps in world, a warm, rich sounding preamp with outstanding inner detail and resolution, as warm and liquid as a tube preamp without dealing with tubes. 

 

Quality as good as it gets!

     The C-275V has 2 sets of XLR's and RCA's, 2 sets of XLR's inputs, 5 sets of RCA's inputs, 2 sets of Tape decks with ins and outs, a superb headphone jack input for reference playback though quality headphones and an absolute reference Accuphase phono stage for MC and MM.

     This is the last Accuphase C-275V with the optional Accuphase phono module and it will cost $12,000.00 to $22,000.00 to replace it. Link to a copy of the brochure: C-275V.

Audio notes by,

Tel: 786 388-8050
E-mail: larry@highendpalace.com

Contact The Palace for your 275V!

Actual photo of the Conrad Johnson-Premier 17LS for sale shot by Larry Diaz for High-End Palace

Conrad-Johnson Premier 17LS

We just got this new condition CJ Premier 17LS Tube Preamp with box, manual and gold metal remote. Superb sounding preamp at a very reasonable price. Kept in a dedicated high-end room, like new! Description: Single-chassis, remote-controlled, tubed line-stage preamplifier. Tube complement: four 6922 dual triodes. Inputs: five unbalanced (RCA), two processor loops. Outputs: two unbalanced (RCA), two processor loops. Frequency range: 2Hz->100kHz. Voltage gain: 26dB. Maximum output: 15V. Distortion (THD or IMD): <0.25% at 1.0V output. S/N Ratio: >100dB at <2.5V output. Output impedance: <850 ohms. Phase: inverts phase of all inputs, at main outputs. Dimensions: 19" (480mm) W by 3.3" (80mm) H by 15.25" (390mm) D. Weight: 21 lbs (9.5kg).

Call us for your CJ Premier 17 LS!

Actual photos of the VK-30SE for sale shot in high-resolution by Larry Diaz for High-End Palace.

BAT VK-30SE

The BAT VK30SE with the SIX Pack Oil Capacitors option (Big improvement sonically with these 12 Oil Caps), brand new premium matched sets of tubes that we just ordered for it, metal remote. This beautiful unit has RCA's and XLR's ins and out. One owner unit in superb conditions.

 

AESTHETIX

 

The new AESTHETIX/RHEA MM/MC TUBE PHONO PREAMP has been regarded as on of the most beautiful sonically and visually phono preamps in the industry. We are offering this dream tube phono preamp with manuals and original box, condition is like everything we sale, like new out of the box. The stunning RHEA features: 8 gain settings of 75, 68, 62, 56, 50, 44, and 38 dB, or OFF, Nine loading settings are 47k, 10k, 5k, 2.5k, 1k, 500, 250, 125, and 75 ohms, Signal to noise is measured at 70dB minimum A-weighted (ref 1mv input, 75dB gain setting), Frequency response is +-.25dB, 20Hz–20kHz and controls are phono input, mute, gain, loading, demagnetizer, and standby, Rhea tube complement (each channel) is V1 & V2 (12AX7LP—factory graded low noise), V3 & V4 (12AX7WB) and V5 (6922), Output impedance is 300 ohms SE and 600 ohms balanced, Shipping weight of 40lbs and measures 4 3/8" high, 17 7/8" wide and 18" deep (including jacks). Shipping weight of 40lbs and measures 4 3/8" high, 17 7/8" wide and 18" deep (including jacks).

Actual photo of the Cello Palette for sale shot in high-resolution by by Larry Diaz for High-End Palace. 

Cello Palette

Reference Preamplifier with precision equalizer and outboard power supply. We have the box and manual. Superb sounding preamp, regarded as one of the best solid state preamp made in the history of high-end audio.

Actual AR REF 2 Mk II for sale shot in high-resolution by by Larry Diaz for High-End Palace.

audio research 

Actual photos of Jeff Rowland Concerto preamp for sale. High-Resolution photography work of done by Larry Diaz for High-End Palace.

JEFF ROWLAND CONCERTO

Just in a Jeff Rowland Concerto Reference balanced preamplifier with remote in new conditions. This preamp let's you listen to your analogue set up or reference CD playback system without adding any sonic signature to it. It's a pretty amazing preamp especially in the right system, as far as the looks goes "Forget about it". It's a Rowland!

 

Actual photo of Jeff Rowland Coherence for sale shot by Larry Diaz for High-End Palace.

The Jeff Rowland Coherence

World Class Reference Balance Preamplifier with all accessories, remote, manual and custom Jeff Rowland flight briefcase. You will not find another Coherence in this conditions any where in the world unless you call Jeff at home and tell him to built you a new one. Own a true master piece! 

Actual photo of HOVLAND HP-100 for sale shot in high-resolution by Larry Diaz for High-End Palace.

HOVLAND HP-100

The beautiful HP-100 with RCA ins and out. Musical, warm and liquid sounding preamp. Mint condition trade-in with box and manual. This preamp is brand new conditions, it has about 200 hours on it.

Actual photo of the Mark Levinson 320S for sale shot in high-resolution by Larry Diaz for High-End Palace.

Mark Levinson 320S

The newest reference dual-mono design from Mark Levinson with 3 balanced (XLR) inputs, 4 single-ended (RCA) inputs, XLR and RCA outputs, home theater pass though, metal remote. This preamp is brand new, it has just a few hours on it.

 

Contact The Palace for the 320S!

CERTIFIED TRADE-IN

Actual photos of the BAT VK-51SE shot in high-resolution by Larry Diaz for High-End Palace.

Balanced Audio Technology VK-51SE

Silver and black BAT VK-51SE Tube Preamp with metal remote, manual and box. STEREOPHILE CLASS A Recommended Component for years. Regarded one of the top 10 Reference Tube Preamps in the world. All balanced Tube preamp with 5 XLR inputs and dual XLR outputs.

Actual Mark Levinson 380S for sale shot in high-resolution by Larry Diaz for High-End Palace. 

Mark Levinson 380S

All balanced Mark Levinson 380S preamp with metal remote and manual, absolute mint conditions! Will ship double boxed.

Open every day from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM

For inquiries and sales contact Larry at The Palace

Tel: 786 388-8050 / Fax 786 388-8051

E-mail address: larry@highendpalace.com

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