I just got this baby (Anthem Pre1) yesterday at a bargan price from a dealer. It was a little used demo. He told me to turn it on for 24 hours before listening to it. I took it out of the box and hooked it up right away before I did anything else. I just bought an Anthem Amp 1 the day before and had hooked it up with my Cary slp30 preamp. I wasn't happy with what I heard from the Cary and the Amp 1, in fact, I was confused. The sound seemed to have no rhythm or pace. It was strange. I chalked it up to my Cary. I couldn't admit to a mistake. Well getting back to the Pre 1. It sounded great with the Amp 1 cold right out of the box.Man does this combo kick and it's just going to get better.The Pre 1 was everything I was hoping it would be. You don't have to feel like a sap for buying inexpensive stuff when it looks and sounds this good. Go Sonic Frontiers. Five big stars.

See my comments under Anthem Amp1. I agree with the review below (BTW using the Amperex 7308's as well). This is an excellent preamp which can bebought used for a bargain price. I had an Audible Illusions 3A--in comparision this unit is a little more musical (maybe more tube like) than AI, but perhaps having lesser dynamics, clarity and soundstaging. Very close though, and I can see where someone might prefer this preamp to the AI as it has a bit more "romance" to the sound. Five stars at its price point.

Great detail, great value.

No Phono section

I've had the Anthem for 6 months now, and am hearing things I never heard before. The tubes give a nice richness to the music.

Similar Products Used:

Rotel, Adcom

My System : Marantz CD67SE, Anthem Pre1L, Anthem Amp1, PSB Stratus MiniThe Pre 1L are very natural sounding preamp.
It adds nothing to music. Very fast and musical.
Great pre, even better if team up with Anthem Amp1.

Detailed, extremely low noise, very neutral with low coloration.

Rumored out of production.

Beautiful no frills tube preamp. Spartan design that yields extremely neutral low noise performance. Can be enhanced with several NOS 6Dj8 tube variations.

Similar Products Used:

Adcom GFA-555, GFA-565

Smooth detailed highs,startlingly clear vocals.

Tubes generate substantial heat,must be well ventilated.

This is my first tube preamp, so i was't used to the heat issue . Had to modify my (homemade)rack to allow better ventilation. Now, for the sound. In a word,WONDERFUL. Especially with classical and jazz. Strings that were once somewhat harsh with the H.K. were smoothed out,Witout becoming too laid back. Voices very detailed, every inflection, even breaths taken between phrases,are crystal clear. I must comment that I did make a tube change, however. I went to the Westinghouse ECC88-6922,A.K.A. Tesla, ordered from Audio Advisor. Found the Westinghouse tubes to have a lower noise floor than the Sovteks.Slightly more detail, and tighter bass as well. But don't let this disuade you from trying this preamp,it is an excellent unit. I have no intention of replacing it. Highly Recommended! Associated Equipment: Adcom GFA 555,Vandersteen 2ce Signature,Pro-ject6.1 turntable with Grado z2+, NAD5240 cd,Kimber8tc+4tc in bi-wire,Kimber Silver Streak.

Similar Products Used:

Harmon Kardon Citation