2. amps-preamps
  3. 177328-155632

Many higher end preamps are dated and ugly, why is this?

Conrad Johnson, BAT, VTL are all very good preamplifiers, they are dated and just ugly.  Audio research is a prettier amplifier but it's not very well regarded due to it sounding more like a solid state, ie. Not really a tube preamp despite all those internal lightbulbs.

Cheaper preamps can be more pretty. Schitt makes a pretty preamp for about $1000. People like pretty.

D'Agostino by many is viewed as very attractive but kind of weird. 

jumia

Showing 3 responses by oddiofyl

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oddiofyl
3,446 posts
 

My Zesto Leto is sexy as hell,  but I bought it because of the rear panel

oddiofyl's avatar
oddiofyl
3,446 posts
 

I love ugly gear too..... some of my best sounding equipment has been plain jane.

oddiofyl's avatar
oddiofyl
3,446 posts
 

My last pre with digital volume was a McCormack , and while it was good I missed the traditional rotary volume knob.   I like tactile switches , buttons, knobs.  My preamp has way more functionality than it's looks suggest .   It has conventional controls, remote vol, mute, and Mono, it can drive 2 stereo amps via RCA and 2 via XLR ,  HT passthrough,   plenty of inputs.   Unreal sound quality .....  that was a good buy 

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