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 $60,000. 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 LARRY DIAZ FOR HIGH-END PALACE

FIRST SOUND REFERENCE TUBE PREAMPS

 

     First Sound is regarded as the best, the purest tube preamps available in high-end audio. These hand made tube preamps are a true specialty product, the company only makes reference tube preamps and they have it mastered down to perfection. These true Dual Mono Pure Class A First Sound preamps comes with a 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 capacitors, 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 or black 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, one for each channel. 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. 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 my audiophile friends. Here is a link to the First Sound website and links to reviews and technical information for you to start your own research: SOUND STAGE, ENJOY THE MUSIC, AUDIO ASYLUM, TECHNICAL SPECS.

 

First Sound Class A Reference Tube Preamps are priced from $4800 to $33,600. There is a waiting list for them so please be patient, contact The Palace to place your order.

What you must know about high-end preamps!

By Larry Diaz from the The Palace!

 

     In the 27 years that I have been in high-end audio business I have sold, heard and owned the best tube and solid state high-end preamps in the world ranging between $1500 to over $60,000 from all the major high-end manufactures. In all these years I have learned that no one preamp is perfect, especially for an extremely picky and knowledgeable audiophile like myself that have the luxury of hearing so many preamps.

In high-end audio there are a lot of preamps to choose from, some preamps have many features but provides poor sound quality, some preamps provides average sound at a reasonable price, some preamps provides good sound quality but lacks looks, prestige, options and there are a handful of preamps that are simply in a league of their own sonically and you realize that from the minute the music starts.

A good preamp to my personal taste has to be deadly quite, I can't stand noisy preamps. This preamp must have an extremely low noise floor, it must be dynamic, fast, robust, well built, it has to sound liquid, smooth, organic, captivating, it has to have soul so that I can to feel the performance, the emotions, 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, with a deep sound stage with deadlock three-dimensional airy images. But wait the list does not end there, all the instruments and voices must interact with each other with ambience, it must have the perfect blend of warmth and neutrality, it must retain all the resolution given from the source, provide a rock solid bass performance and it must image outside of the speakers not just in the center to provide to provide a life like experience of live music. This preamp can not place any sonic signature to the music or roll off at the extremes.

I can tell you from experience that there are only a handful of high-end preamps in the world that can do everything I just mention and all of them are 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 to listen and compare to what I had at the time, and like any audiophile I love new stuff, put my system to the test, see if I can get even closer to the music, improve my high-end audio system to the next level. That was a magical evening, we ordered good food and listen to the new First Sound preamp for hours. I was so taken by this preamp that I ordered one the following day and became a dealer for them. Here are ten reasons why it's extremely hard for most preamps to compete with the First Sound preamps:

 

1. First Sound preamps have more than 20 times the power supply reserve than other preamps. We are talking 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 up to the Statement. The Statement's are simply on another planet, they provide a whopping 1,120,000 mfd for the Paramount Statement and Paramount Statement SE. Transformer size and power reserve improves music stability, stage presence, pin-point precision, fidelity and dynamics.

2. First Sound preamps have 4 to over 30 times the transformer size than other preamps. 

3. There are no complicated circuit boards on First Sound preamps. Everything is point to point wiring with short and direct traces soldered to perfection to achieve the purest sound. First Sound Class A tube preamps provides a resolution that's untouchable!

4. Dual mono designs with separate handcrafted step attenuator volume controls and input selector for each channel. No remote! Unfortunately remotes degrades sound quality mo matter what approach is taken in comparison.

5. Pure Class A designs with outboard power supplies for a lower noise floor and a liquid smooth sound

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 heard and tested on any tube preamp.

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

9. First Sound is a true specialty product. They only make reference 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.

 

    First Sound is and has been my personal reference preamp for many years. 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 my system, it keeps my golden ears sharp but 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. 

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, in most cases the sound degradation is so drastic that I wonder what are audiophiles are listening to out there. I tell you, finding perfect harmony in a high-end audio system can be frustrated. Take it from someone that have owned, heard and sold the best of the best for decades, there is no replacement for a true high-end preamplifier and the First Sound my audiophiles friends is where the road ends in high-end preamps.

Reporting from The Palace,

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

When only the best tube preamp will do!

 

      First Sound has been building true reference tube preamps out of Renton, Washington USA for seventeen years. 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 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 have the proper synergy. 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 their preamps to exacting standards utilizing top quality materials and techniques. Link to the First Sound website.

 

 

First Sound volume controls are hand-crafted using beefy 25 amp switches with 46 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 masterpiece

 

 

First Sound Features

• 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
• 3/8" 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

 

Specifications

• Type: 2 Channel Reference Tube Preamplifier
• Inputs: Six Inputs
• Outputs: Two Main Outputs, One Tape Output
• Frequency Response: 5Hz to 250kHz
• Input Impedance: 150k Ohms
• Absolute Phase: Inverting
• Total Harmonic Distortion: Less than 0.4% at 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 Mk II: 78 lbs
  Presence Deluxe Mk II: 57 lbs

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 BAT Preamps!

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. Tne SLP-05 is a full-featured fully balanced design with vacuum tube headphone stage and 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.

Contact The Palace for Cary Audio components!

PHOTOGRAPHY WORK 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. 

 

The SLP-98 is 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.

Contact The Palace for Cary Audio components!

 

 

 

 

PHOTOGRAPHY WORK 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.

Contact The Palace for Cary Audio components!

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 is one of the 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!

Actual photo of the Pass Labs Aleph P for sale shot in high-resolution by Larry Diaz for High-End Palace.

PASS LABS ALEPH P BALANCED PREAMP

     New conditions Pass Labs Aleph P balanced reference preamp designed by Nelson Pass with XLR and RCA ins and out for the holidays. This preamp has been fully checked by our tech. Call us that we have many trade-ins and unbelievable deals for the holidays that we must move to make room for new ones. Visit our website and look under CERTIFIED TRADE-INS, PRE-OWNED & CONSIGNMENT that we have been told for years that we sell the best certified trade-ins in the world. If you need any additional information call me that you could not be in better hands.

 

Warm regards,

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

Actual photo of the CJ-12 for sale shot in high-resolution by Larry Diaz for High-End Palace.

CONRAD-JOHNSON PV-12 VACUUM TUBE PREAMP

      New conditions CJ PV-12 tube preamp with gold faceplate. Perfect working order CJ preamp, fully checked by our tech and replace the tubes with new gold pins premium tubes for the new owner to have a nice preamp for the holidays. Call us that we have many trade-ins and unbelievable deals for the holidays that we must move to make room for new ones. Visit our website and look under CERTIFIED TRADE-INS, PRE-OWNED & CONSIGNMENT that we have been told for years that we sell the best certified trade-ins in the world. If you need any additional information call me that you could not be in better hands.

 

Warm regards,

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

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

KLYNE 6LX-3P PREAMP WITH PHONO

      Klyne Model 6LX-3P preamp with gold faceplate and a truly superb phono module in excellent conditions at The Palace. Call us that we have over twenty new trade-ins and unbelievable deals that we must move to make room for new ones, visit our website and look under CERTIFIED TRADE-INS, PRE-OWNED & CONSIGNMENT that we have been told for years that we sell the best certified trade-ins in the world. If you need any additional information call me that you could not be in better hands.

 

Warm regards,

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

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

KLYNE PREAMPS WITH CLEAR TOPS AND OUTBOARD POWER SUPPLIES

    Excelent conditions balanced version Klyne Model 7LX5B with black faceplate with XLR's and RCA's inputs and output. If you need any additional information call me that you could not be in better hands.

 

Balanced Audio Technology VK-31SE

New conditions 10/10 BAT VK-31SE with XLR's and RCA's ins and outs, theater PASS through, dual transformers, 14 Oil Capacitors SUPER-PAK, POWER PACK, beautiful metal remote. This preamp is arguably the best overall tube preamp you can buy in this price range. Call us that we make audiophiles dreams come through every day here at The 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 .

 

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.

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.

 

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.

 

PHOTOGRAPHY WORK SHOT IN HIGH-RESOLUTION BY LARRY DIAZ FOR HIGH-END PALACE

audio research

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. 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.

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).

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).