Vendor spec, measurement agreesVendor spec, unverifiedIndependent measurementVendor claim disputed by measurement ⚠ inspect: conflict and/or normalized value Gold is a vendor figure: a fact — dimensions, driver/connector counts, supported formats — trusted and never disputed, or an unverified performance claim still awaiting independent measurement.
| Bluesound NODE NANO ·2024 also: compact streaming DAC/preamp | $499 | · | · | 118 | · | Yes | · | 0.57 | |
| Schiit Audio Freya S ·2019 ◆2 | $599 | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | |
| Topping Pre90 ◆1 | $599 | 16 | 0.00006 | 145 | Yes | No | No | 1.1 | |
| Parasound NewClassic 200 PRE NewClassic | $675 ea | 12 | 0.03 | 100 | No | Yes | No | 5 | |
| Emotiva BasX PT2 BasX | $699 | · | · | · | · | Yes | · | 4.5 | |
| Pro-Ject Audio Systems Pre Box S3 | $699 | 9 | · | · | No | Yes | No | 1.2 | |
| Schiit Audio Kara F | $799 ea | 12 | 0.0004 | 123 | Yes | · | · | 5 | |
| Bluesound NODE ·2024 also: streaming DAC/preamp | $849 | · | · | 118 | · | Yes | · | 1.09 | |
| Schiit Audio Freya+ F | $999 ea | · | · | · | Yes | · | · | 5 | |
| NuPrime DAC-9X ·2021 also: DAC/preamp with headphone output | $1,199 | · | · | · | · | · | · | 4 | |
| Woo Audio WA7 Fireflies (3rd Gen) ·2021 also: tube DAC/headphone amp with pre-out | $1,329 | · | · | 100 | · | · | · | 3.9 | |
| Bluesound NODE ICON ·2024 also: streaming DAC/preamp | $1,599 | · | · | 129 | · | Yes | · | 2.23 | |
| NuPrime AMG PRA | $1,799 | 10.10dB high / 6.44dB low | 0.008 | 95 | Yes | No | No | 5 | |
| Bryston BHA-1 ◆2 | $2,495 | · | 0.005 | · | Yes | No | No | 5.3 | |
| Exposure 3510 Pre-Amplifier | $2,995 | · | · | · | No | No | No | 5 | |
| Benchmark Media Systems LA4 ·2019 ◆5 | $3,050 | · | ≤0.0001 | 137 | Yes | No | No | 3.6 | |
| Holo Audio Serene KTE | $3,498 | 6 | · | · | Yes | No | No | · | |
| Benchmark Media Systems HPA4 ·2018 ◆4 | $3,499 | 15 | ≤0.0001 | 133 | Yes | No | No | 3.6 | |
| Burson Audio Conductor Voyager ·2025 Voyager also: DAC/headphone amp/preamp | $3,499 ea | · | · | · | · | · | · | 7 | |
| Anthem STR Preamplifier | $4,299 | · | · | · | Yes | Yes | No | 7.3 | |
| McIntosh C8 | $4,500 | 15 | 0.08 | 95 | Yes | No | No | 8.2 | |
| Roksan Caspian 4G Streaming Pre-Amplifier Caspian Series 4G · current | $4,500 | · | · | · | Yes | Yes | Yes | 10.1 | |
| Bryston BP-17 Cubed (BP-17³) ◆3 | $4,999 | · | 0.0025 | 108 | Yes | No | No | 5 | |
| Bryston BP-19 ·2022 | $5,195 | · | 0.0006 | 110 | Yes | · | · | 5.5 | |
| PrimaLuna EVO 400 Preamplifier | $5,295 | 10 | · | · | No | No | No | 24 | |
| Cambridge Audio Edge NQ | $5,499 | · | · | · | Yes | Yes | Yes | 10.2 | |
| Aesthetix Pallene ·2023 ◆2 | $6,500 | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | |
| McIntosh C49 | $6,500 | 15 | 0.005 | 100 | Yes | Yes | Yes | 10.4 | |
| Simaudio MOON 491 ·2026 | $6,500 | 10 | 0.0004 | 120 | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9 | |
| conrad-johnson ET6/ET6SE | $6,600 | 25 | 0.15 | 98 | · | No | No | 6.8 | |
| Bryston BR-20 ·2020 | $6,795 | · | 0.0006 | · | Yes | Yes | Yes | · | |
| NAD M66 ·2024 ◆3 | $7,199 | · | 0.001 | 105 | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.6 | |
| Pass Labs XP-12 ·2018 | $7,210 | 9.3 | · | · | Yes | · | · | 9.1 | |
| Audio Research LS-3 ◆1 LS | $7,450 | 20 | 0.007 | · | Yes | No | · | 15 | |
| McIntosh C22 Mk V | $7,500 | 15 | 0.08 | 100 | Yes | No | No | 11.3 | |
| Sutherland Engineering N1 ·2022 ◆2 | $8,000 | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | |
| Linn Selekt DSM also: configurable network music player / DAC / preamp / integrated amp platform | $8,020 | · | · | · | · | Yes | · | 8.05-10.85 kg Classic Hub; 9.5-12.3 kg Edition Hub | |
| Audio Research LS-2 ◆1 LS | $8,450 | 12 | 0.03 | · | Yes | No | · | 15 | |
| Woo Audio WA23 LUNA ·2022 | $8,549 | · | · | · | Yes | No | No | 13.6 | |
| Naim NSC 222 ·2023 ◆3 | $8,999 | · | 0.0025 | 95 ⚠ | Yes | Yes | Yes | 11 | |
| Hegel P30A | $9,000 | · | · | · | Yes | No | No | 7.2 | |
| McIntosh C2800 ·2024 ◆2 | $9,000 | 15 | 0.08 | 100 | Yes | Yes | Yes | 12.7 | |
| Constellation Audio Inspiration Preamp 1.0 | $9,900 | · | · | · | Yes | No | No | 11 | |
| Balanced Audio Technology VK-80 Preamplifier | $10,000 ea | 18 | 0.005 | 96 | Yes | No | No | 18.1 | |
| McIntosh C55 ·2024 | $10,500 | 15 | 0.005 | 100 | Yes | Yes | No | 12.7 | |
| Pass Labs XP-22 ·2018 | $10,972 | 9.6 | 0.001 | 99 | Yes | · | · | 18.1 | |
| Naim NAC 332 ·2023 ◆2 | $10,999 | 15.5 | 0.003 | · | Yes | No | No | 11 | |
| Audio Research LS28 SE LS · SE | $12,000 | 18.5 | 0.007 | 122 | Yes | No | · | 7.2 | |
| Townshend Audio Allegri Reference ◆2 | $12,000 | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | |
| Balanced Audio Technology VK-85 Preamplifier | $12,500 ea | 20 | 0.01 | 96 | Yes | No | No | 18.1 | |
| Mola Mola Makua | $13,400 | · | · | · | Yes | No | No | 5.5 | |
| Balanced Audio Technology VK-90 Preamplifier | $15,000 ea | 18 | 0.005 | 100 | Yes | No | No | 19.1 | |
| MBL N11 Preamplifier | $15,000 | · | · | · | Yes | No | No | 16 | |
| Vitus Audio RL-102 | $15,000 | · | · | · | Yes | No | No | 12 | |
| conrad-johnson ET7-S2 | $15,500 | 25 | 0.15 | 100 | · | No | No | 8.62 | |
| Luxman C-900u | $15,995 | 12 | 0.005 | 126 | Yes | No | No | 19.7 | |
| McIntosh C12000 | $16,000 | 15 | 0.005 | 107 | Yes | No | No | 23.6 | |
| Simaudio MOON 791 ·2023 ◆4 | $16,000 | 13.7 | 0.00019 | 119.8 | Yes | Yes | Yes | 19 | |
| Soulution 325 Preamplifier | $18,000 | · | · | · | Yes | No | No | 12 | |
| Pass Labs XP-32 ·2021 | $18,375 | 10.2 | 0.001 | 85 | Yes | · | · | 26.1 | |
| Simaudio MOON 891 ·2023 ◆3 | $25,000 | 13.6 | 0.00004 | 120.1 | Yes | Yes | Yes | 25 | |
| conrad-johnson ART88 | $28,000 | 25 | 0.25 | · | · | No | No | 14.97 | |
| Balanced Audio Technology REX 3 Preamplifier | $30,000 ea | 18 | 0.005 | 100 | Yes | No | No | 34.5 | |
| Soulution 326 Preamplifier ◆2 | $36,475 | 0 | 0.0001 | · | Yes | No | No | 10 | |
| TIDAL Prisma ·2020 ◆1 | $40,000 | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | |
| Vitus Audio SL-103 Mk.II ·2024 ◆1 | $44,625 | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | |
| Linn Klimax DSM also: network music player / streaming DAC preamp | $48,230 | · | · | · | · | Yes | · | 16.4 | |
| darTZeel NHB-18NS | $61,445 | 11 | 1 | 92 | Yes | No | No | 27 | |
| Gryphon Audio Designs Commander | $63,000 | · | · | · | Yes | No | No | 42 | |
| Aavik C-280 | — | 5 | 0.005 | · | No | No | No | 6.1 | |
| Accuphase C-3900 | — | 18 | 0.005 | 118 | Yes | No | No | 24.6 | |
| Accustic Arts PREAMP I | — | · | 0.001 | 97 | Yes | option dependent | · | 11.6 | |
| Allnic Audio L-8500 OTL/OCL Preamplifiers · OTL/OCL | — | 18 | 0.03 | 100 | Yes | No | No | 16 | |
| Aragon Tungsten | — | · | · | · | · | Yes | · | · | |
| Atma-Sphere MP-1 Mk 3.3 | — | 12 | · | · | Yes | · | · | 19 | |
| Atma-Sphere MP-3 Mk 3.3 | — | 15 | · | · | Yes | · | · | 8.6 | |
| Atma-Sphere UV-1 UltraViolet | — | 15 | · | · | No | · | · | 3.18 | |
| Audia Flight FLS1 FLS | — | 10 | 0.05 | 110 | Yes | · | · | 15 | |
| Audio-gd HE-9 MK3 also: headphone amplifier with XLR/RCA/ACSS preamp outputs | — | · | 0.0025 | · | · | No | · | 22 | |
| Audio-gd Master 9 MK3 also: headphone amplifier with RCA/XLR/ACSS preamp outputs | — | · | 0.003 | · | · | No | · | 7 | |
| Audio-gd NFB-11.28 Performance Edition also: DAC/headphone amp with variable or fixed RCA output | — | · | published as AP-2722 diagrams | · | · | Yes | · | 2.2 | |
| Audio-gd R-27 MK2 also: DAC with relay-volume preamp and balanced/single-ended headphone outputs | — | · | · | 120 | · | · | · | 12 | |
| Audio Research Reference 20 Reference | — | · | · | · | Yes | No | · | · | |
| Audio Research Reference 7 Reference | — | · | · | · | Yes | · | · | · | |
| Audionet MACH | — | · | · | 123 | · | No | No | · | |
| Audionet PRE G2 | — | · | · | 120 | Yes | No | No | 15 | |
| Auralic Vega S1 also: streaming DAC/preamp | — | · | · | · | · | Yes | · | · | |
| Aurender A1 also: streaming DAC/preamp | — | · | · | · | · | Yes | · | 19.25 | |
| Aurender A1000 also: streaming DAC/preamp | — | · | · | · | · | Yes | · | 8.3 | |
| Aurender A15 also: streaming DAC/preamp | — | · | · | · | · | Yes | · | 11.9 | |
| Aurender A20 also: streaming DAC/preamp with headphone output | — | · | · | · | · | Yes | · | 14.2 | |
| Aurender A200 also: streaming DAC/preamp | — | · | · | · | · | Yes | · | 9.6 | |
| Aurender A30 also: streaming DAC/preamp with CD ripping | — | · | · | · | · | Yes | · | 17 | |
| AVM Evolution PAS 3.3 Evolution · 3.3 | — | · | · | · | Yes | Yes | Yes | · | |
| AVM Evolution PAS 5.3 Evolution · 5.3 | — | · | · | · | Yes | Yes | Yes | · | |
| AVM Ovation PA 8.3 Ovation · 8.3 | — | · | 0.001 | 100 | Yes | · | No | 12 | |
| AVM Ovation PAS 8.3 S Ovation · 8.3 S | — | · | · | · | · | Yes | Yes | 15 | |
| Ayon Audio S-10 II also: streaming DAC/preamp | — | · | 0.002 | 115 | · | Yes | · | 12 | |
| Ayon Audio Spheris Evo Evolution | — | · | 0.01 | 98 | Yes | No | No | 43 | |
| Ayre Acoustics KX-8 Variable Gain Preamplifier | — | variable | · | · | Yes | Yes | Yes | 5.7 | |
| Burmester 088 Preamplifier | — | · | · | · | Yes | · | · | 9 | |
| Burson Audio Playmate 3 ·2024 also: DAC/headphone amp/preamp | — | · | · | · | · | · | · | 3 | |
| Burson Audio Soloist Voyager Voyager also: headphone amp/preamp | — | · | 0.0015 | · | · | No | · | 7 | |
| Canor Audio Hyperion P1 Reference Line | — | 11 | 0.005 | 115 | Yes | No | No | 29 | |
| Cary Audio SLP-05 SLP | — | 24 | 0.03 | 90 | Yes | No | No | 15.9 | |
| Classé Delta PRE Mk II Delta Series | — | · | 0.0004 | 130 | Yes | Yes | Yes | 13.5 | |
| Coda Technologies 07x FET Preamplifier | — | 12 | 0.005 | 110 | Yes | · | · | · | |
| Coda Technologies Continuum CP Continuum | — | 12 | 0.02 | 100 | Yes | · | · | 6.8 | |
| Constellation Audio Inspiration 2 Preamplifier Inspiration 2 | — | · | 0.001 | · | Yes | No | No | 11.5 | |
| Constellation Audio Performance 2 Preamplifier Performance 2 | — | · | 0.001 | 108 | Yes | No | No | 12.75 | |
| Constellation Audio Revelation 2 Preamplifier Revelation 2 | — | · | 0.001 | · | Yes | No | No | 16 | |
| Decware CSP325 Zen Triode Anniversary | — | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | |
| EAR Yoshino EAR 834L EAR · 834L | — | · | · | · | No | · | · | · | |
| EAR Yoshino EAR 868 EAR · 868 | — | · | · | 90 | Yes | · | · | 10 | |
| EAR Yoshino EAR 912 EAR · 912 | — | · | · | 90 | Yes | · | · | 13 | |
| Electrocompaniet EC 4.8 MKII | — | 6 | 0.002 | · | Yes | No | No | 11.3 | |
| Electrocompaniet EC 5 | — | 20 | 0.0002 | 113 | Yes | No | No | 36 | |
| Esoteric N-05XD also: network DAC/preamp | — | · | · | 105 | · | Yes | · | 13.8 | |
| EverSolo DAC-Z10 ·2025 also: DAC/preamp with analog inputs | — | · | · | 130 | · | · | · | · | |
| EverSolo DMP-A10 ·2024 ◆3 also: flagship streaming DAC/preamp | — | · | · | 130 | · | Yes | · | · | |
| EverSolo DMP-A6 Gen 2 ·2024 ◆1 also: streaming DAC/preamp | — | · | · | 128 | · | Yes | · | · | |
| EverSolo DMP-A6 Master Edition Gen 2 ·2024 ◆1 also: streaming DAC/preamp | — | · | · | 128 | · | Yes | · | · | |
| EverSolo DMP-A8 ·2023 ◆2 also: streaming DAC/preamp | — | · | · | 128 | · | Yes | · | · | |
| FiiO K17 also: desktop DAC/headphone amp/preamp | — | · | · | · | · | Yes | · | · | |
| FiiO K19 also: flagship desktop DAC/headphone amp | — | · | · | · | · | Yes | · | · | |
| FiiO R9 also: desktop streaming DAC/headphone amp | — | · | · | · | · | Yes | · | · | |
| FM Acoustics FM 155-MKII R Resolution Series | — | · | · | · | No | No | No | · | |
| FM Acoustics FM 245 Resolution Series | — | · | · | · | Yes | No | No | · | |
| GamuT Audio D3i | — | 5 | 0.0008 | 110 | Yes | · | · | 12 | |
| Goldmund Mimesis Excellence | — | · | 0.0004 | 130 | Yes | Yes | No | 11.5 | |
| Goldmund Mimesis Signature | — | · | 0.005 | 120 | Yes | Yes | No | 15 | |
| Gryphon Audio Designs Commander | — | 18 | 0.003 | · | Yes | No | No | 68.7 | |
| Jadis JP80 MC | — | 20 dB line / 57 dB MM / 84 dB MC at 1 kHz | · | · | · | No | No | 30 | |
| Jay's Audio DAC2-MK3 also: pure DAC / preamp mode with built-in digital volume control | — | · | · | 118 | · | · | · | 15 | |
| LAB12 HPA also: tube headphone amp / preamp with USB DAC | — | · | · | · | · | Yes | · | 6 | |
| LAB12 PRE1 | — | 21 | 0.04 | 90 | Yes | No | No | 7 | |
| LAB12 TRUE | — | · | · | · | No | No | No | 3.5 | |
| LAMM Industries L2.1 Reference ◆3 Reference | — | · | 0.03 | 94 | Yes | No | No | 7 | |
| LAMM Industries LL1.1 Signature ◆2 Signature | — | 17.43 | 0.03 | 105 | No | No | No | 16.2 | |
| Leben RS-28CX Premium preamplifiers | — | 25.2 | · | · | · | · | · | 13.5 | |
| Luxman C-10X | — | 15 | 0.003 | 132 | Yes | No | No | 19.8 | |
| Mark Levinson No. 5206 | — | 14 | 0.003 | 93 | Yes | Yes | No | 15.4 | |
| Mark Levinson No. 523 | — | 13.5 | 0.003 | 115 | Yes | No | No | 17.7 | |
| Mark Levinson No. 526 | — | 13.5 | 0.003 | 115 | Yes | Yes | No | 17.7 | |
| Mark Levinson No. 626 | — | 13.5 | 0.0001 | 100 | Yes | Yes | No | 17.1 | |
| Metrum Acoustics Adagio also: DAC with volume control | — | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | |
| Metrum Acoustics Jade also: balanced DAC with volume control | — | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | |
| Nagra Classic Preamp Classic | — | 12 | 0.01 | 125 | Yes | No | No | 4.9 | |
| Nagra HD Preamp HD | — | · | · | 150 | Yes | No | No | 30 | |
| Naim Statement NAC S1 ·2014 ◆1 Statement | — | 15 | · | · | Yes | No | No | 61.5 | |
| Octave HP 300 SE | — | 25 | 0.005 | 108 | Yes | · | · | 9 | |
| Octave HP 700 SE | — | 25 | 0.01 | 110 | Yes | · | · | 10 | |
| Octave Jubilee Preamp SE Jubilee Line | — | 22 | 0.1 | 100 | Yes | · | · | 17.2 | |
| Pass Labs Xs Pre 2 ·2025 | — | 10.5 | 0.001 | · | Yes | No | No | 38.6 | |
| Pathos Acoustics Converto Mk2 also: DAC preamplifier and headphone amplifier | — | · | · | 110 | · | · | · | 2.5 | |
| Pathos Acoustics InControl Mk2 | — | 12 | · | · | Yes | No | No | 18 | |
| Pathos Acoustics InPoL Ear also: headphone amplifier and preamplifier | — | · | 0.1 | · | · | No | · | 12.5 | |
| Quad 33 | — | 0 | 0.0005 | 108 | Yes | No | No | 4 | |
| Quad Artera Play+ ·2024 also: CD & disc players | — | · | 0.001 | 118 | Yes | Yes | No | 8.5 | |
| Quad Artera Pre | — | 8 | 0.002 | 110 | Yes | No | No | 7.8 | |
| Rega Research Mercury Mercury · Ref | — | · | 0.001 | · | Yes | Yes | · | 14 | |
| Rogue Audio RP-1 v2 ◆1 | — | 7 | 0.1 | · | No | No | No | 7.3 | |
| Rogue Audio RP-5 v2 ◆1 | — | 11 | 0.1 | · | No | No | No | 13.6 | |
| Rogue Audio RP-7 v2 ·2018 ◆2 | — | 14 | 0.1 | · | Yes | No | No | 13.6 | |
| Rogue Audio RP-9 v2 ◆1 | — | 14 | 0.1 | · | Yes | No | No | 13.6 | |
| Rotel Michi P5 Series 2 Michi · Series 2 | — | · | 0.002 | 116 | Yes | Yes | · | 22.9 | |
| Rotel RC-1590MKII ·2021 15 Series | — | · | 0.002 | 117 | Yes | Yes | · | 10.1 | |
| Shanling EH2 also: compact desktop DAC/headphone amp | — | · | · | 119 | · | · | · | 0.71 | |
| Shanling EH3 also: desktop DAC/headphone amp/preamp | — | · | · | 120 | · | · | · | 2.8 | |
| Sonnet Digital Audio Morpheus MK-II also: DAC with lossless volume control | — | · | · | · | · | · | · | 3.2 | |
| Sonnet Digital Audio Pasithea also: DAC with switchable attenuation | — | · | · | · | · | · | · | 3.5 | |
| Soulnote P-3 Series 3 | — | 11 | 0.0015 | · | Yes | No | No | 25 | |
| Soulution 525 Preamplifier | — | 15 | 0.00009 | 120 | Yes | No | No | 20 | |
| Soulution 727 Preamplifier | — | 4 | 0.0001 | 120 | Yes | No | No | 28 | |
| Spectral Audio DMC-30SV | — | 15 | 0.005 | 108 | Yes | No | No | 13 | |
| SPL Director Mk2 Professional Fidelity also: preamplifier with DA converter | — | · | · | · | · | · | · | 4.55 | |
| SPL Elector Professional Fidelity | — | · | 0.0018 | · | Yes | No | No | 4.25 | |
| SPL Phonitor x Professional Fidelity also: headphone amplifier and preamplifier | — | · | 0.00082 | · | · | Yes | · | 4.4 | |
| Topping Pre900 | — | 19.3 | 0.00003 | 151 | Yes | No | No | · | |
| Unison Research Unico Pre v2 Unico | — | 20 | · | · | Yes | Yes | No | 11 | |
| VAC Essence Line Stage Essence | — | · | · | · | No | No | No | · | |
| VAC Master Preamplifier Master | — | 11 | 0.009 | · | Yes | No | No | 27.7 | |
| VAC Renaissance Mk V Preamplifier Renaissance · Mk V | — | 10 | 0.009 | · | Yes | No | No | · | |
| VAC Signature Mk IIa SE Preamplifier Signature · Mk IIa SE | — | 11 | 0.009 | · | Yes | No | No | 27.7 | |
| VAC Statement Line Stage Statement | — | 11 | 0.007 | · | Yes | No | No | · | |
| Vinnie Rossi Brama Preamplifier | — | · | · | · | · | No | No | · | |
| VTL TL 2.5i Performance Preamplifier | — | 14 | 0.02 | 90 | · | · | · | 11.34 | |
| VTL TL5.5 Series II Signature Preamplifier Signature · Series II | — | 17 | · | · | Yes | · | · | 13.6 | |
| VTL TL6.5 Series II Signature Preamplifier Signature · Series II | — | 19.2 | · | · | Yes | · | · | 20.86 | |
| VTL TL7.5 Series III Reference Preamplifier Reference · Series III | — | 19.2 | · | · | Yes | · | · | 31.74 | |
| WiiM Ultra also: streaming DAC/preamp | — | · | · | 121 | · | Yes | · | 1.42 |