The preamplifiers category houses all articles relating to the service, repair, restoration and review of hi-fi stereo preamplifiers.
Here's a nice little repair and overhaul I recently did on a lovely Krell KAV-280p preamplifier. Let's call this the first article in #Krellmonth! The modest Krell KAV-280p may not be a high-end preamplifier in Krell terms like the Krell KRC-HR or Krell PAM-7, but what it lacks in tech…
Krell has produced some stunning gear over the years and this Krell PAM-7 is a great example. Come with me as I repair and overhaul this lovely old girl. The Krell PAM-7 preamplifier dates back to earliest days of Krell, but all the trademark features are present: thick boards, premium…
The Accuphase C-202 line-level class-A preamplifier is an extraordinary piece of hi-fi gear. Come along as I service and review this great preamp.The Accuphase C-202 is a line-level, class-A, fully balanced preamplifier. It also features a dedicated CD buffer circuit, with very little in the signal path. By any measure,…
Welcome back audio friends. Come with me this time, as I dive deeply into the repair and complete restoration of one of the best solid state preamplifiers of all time - the magnificent Krell KRC-HR. NOTE - for a bunch of different shots and angles, check out my detailed Krell KRC-HR video…
You may have seen the article I wrote recently about repairing a gorgeous Yamaha MX-1 power amplifier. This time I'm servicing a Yamaha CX-1 preamplifier, which matches the MX-1 and is part of the same set. Yamaha made some really superb hi-fi gear back in the day, as I'm sure…
These latest additions to the Hall of Shame are two of the worst cases of hi-fi electronics bodgery I've ever seen. This shocking case of Krell destruction - of a Krell KRC preamp - by a so-called expert has to be seen to be believed. Visit my Hall of Shame…
I've just repaired this lovely McIntosh Laboratories C220 preamplifier. This high-quality preamp fell victim to a growing problem - modern Pb-free production processes. The McIntosh C220 preamplifier is a hybrid tube/transistor based preamplifier, featuring a phono preamp and microprocessor control. It's a well-made unit, though not like the McIntosh of…
I’ve just serviced a Quad 44 preamplifier. In this article, I'll show you what the Quad 44 looks like inside and explain some of its features. Along with a Quad 405 power amplifier, I recently serviced this Quad 44 preamplifier, both owned by the same customer. I'm told he purchased…
The Audiolab 8000Q preamplifier is a really nice piece of gear, let down by cheap, factory-fitted parts. In this article, I repair a misbehaving 8000Q. The Audiolab 8000Q preamplifier in this article came to me with a fault which would see it sometimes take a long time to turn on.…
Wow, I've just serviced a complete Kenwood L-1000 hi-fi system! This is incredible gear, beautifully constructed, with stellar build-quality. The Kenwood L-1000 series are becoming rare now, so to find a complete system in the hands of its original owner is something pretty special. This stack of gear consisted of…