Tube Preamp Reviews

Digital Sources: Ayre C-5xe universal player; Prima Luna ProLogue Eight CD player; Mark Levinson No.30.6, Benchmark DAC 1 USB D/A converters; Logitech (Slim Devices) Transporter WiFi music player with Apple Mac mini running OSX for media storage.
Preamplifiers: Parasound Halo JC 2, Mark Levinson No.380S.
Power Amplifiers: Parasound Halo JC 1, Musical Fidelity 550k Supercharger, Mark Levinson No.33H (all monoblocks).
Loudspeakers: Magico V3, PSB Synchrony One, Avalon Evolution NP2, Totem Acoustic Model One Signature.
Cables: Digital: Kimber Kable Illuminations Orchid AES/EBU, AudioQuest OptiLink-5 S/PDIF. Interconnect: Ayre Acoustics Signature Series (balanced), Linn (unbalanced). Speaker: AudioQuest Kilimanjaro. AC: PS Audio Lab, Shunyata Research Anaconda Helix Alpha, manufacturers' own.
Accessories: PS Audio Power Plant 300 at 90Hz (preamps), Audio Power Industries 116 Mk.II & PE-1, APC S-15 AC line conditioners (not power amps); Target TT-5 equipment racks; Ayre Myrtle Blocks; ASC Tube Traps, RPG Abffusor panels. AC power comes from two dedicated 20A circuits, each just 6' from the breaker box, a power amplifier plugged into each.—John Atkinson