STUNNING SOUND; INCREDIBLE FLEXIBILITY AND FEATURES. I CONSIDER IT TO BE ESSENTIALLY THE SAME AS THE REFERENCE 3 IN SOUND QUALITY, BUT WITH MORE GAIN, MORE FEATURES AND FLEXIBILITY.

i DON'T THINK THAT A BETTER PREAMP EXISTS; I HAVE HEARD SOME VERY GOOD ONES, BUT NOTHING THAT SOUNDS BETTER AT ANY PRICE. TRULY STATE-OF THE ART, IN MY BOOK.