I am a CAT Ultimate owner who has not yet heard the Hovland. I have heard all the raves about the Hovland and, given that those raving seem to agree on what they like about it, I am sure that the Hovland competes in that ultimate preamp category and may be even better than the CAT. But, I don't see how anyone could say that the CAT is "in your face forward". It just isn't.
