728A Vacuum Tube Pre Amplifier ,with Bass and Treble Control, Tubes 12AT72,12AU72,6Z42 (Black)

For the money is a great preamplifierVery quiet and clean sound 👍

And, yes, it's not "too good to be true", as some reviewers on other websites proclaim. And, yes, it's a Chinese product, and we are well aware how China is being demonized lately. And, the tubes are knocked, as they are Chinese made. And, there is only the 5 RCA inputs, with no 'balanced' outputs, optical, USB, etc. So what is the result? After breaking in the unit's tubes (turning the unit on for about a total of 12 hours in 3 sessions, which I strongly recommend) I gave the unit a 'road test' using my CD player. Rock - Beatles Abbey Road remix, Jimi Hendrix, Robin Trower Bridge of Sighs, Van Halen; Classical: Beethoven 5th Symphony, Mozart 3rd Concerto, Rachmaninoff Concerto No. 2, Dvorak New World Symphony, Jazz - Chick Corea Return to Forever, Al DiMeola solo recordings, Lionel Hampton, Artie Shaw 'Portrait' box set; Blues - Earl Hooker '2 Bugs and a Roach', Buddy Guy 'Damn Right, I've Got the Blues - Result? An excellent warm sound and a surprising improvement over my old McIntosh C38 (granted, my unit is 25 years old and has seen A LOT of use). Some reviewers on other sites knocked the bass that the unit delivers - NO, the bass is surprising good - period. And, the treble, bass and balance controls all function well, but can be turned off by way of the BYPASS switch on the unit's face. And, that's it! - many audio reviews seemed to think that a unit has to cost an 'arm and a leg' to be 'audiophile quality' - this unit proves that maxim WRONG. About the tubes: the 728A unit has been around for many years, and tube technology has obviously advanced quite a bit in China, because I found there was no need for me to consider a change-out out the tubes. This, of course, depends on personal taste, and many alternatives are available for the 12AU7,12AU7, and 6Z4 installed tubes, including such as the Gold-Pin Electro-Harmonix (probably the best) as well as Sylvania, Phillips, RCA black-plate, etc. The two 6Z4 tubes also have excellent replacements readily available, as well. But my advice is: if the unit sounds great already (like mine does) save the expense and trouble of changing out the tubes. You can always change them at a later date, if necessary or desired.OK, more good things to be mentioned. The seller of this unit: Newsong, delivers world-class caliber customer service ('good customer service' - remember that?). After my purchase, I was given an immediate follow-up by a nice lady at NewSong who made sure not only that I was pleased with my purchase, but shipped me the unit from Hong Kong, arriving in TWO DAYS! US companies don't even approach that shipping speed. In addition, the unit arrived in ultra-sturdy packaging, as well.Bottom line: I am much more pleased with the quality and performance of the unit then I was led to expect from several US reviews of this unit. Check the legendary CD producer Steve Hoffman who wrote a favorable review for the unit. There is "something" about the tube sound - a certain warmth often not presented in solid-state. At this unit's price-point it's a 'no brainer', as far as I am concerned. I lowered the unit to FOUR STARS for lack of balanced outputs, USB, and a lack of instructions in English and no remote (which you probably do not need if your input device has one) - also, to me, rating any electronics FIVE STARS means that said item "walks on water", and in electronics that valuation is for the listener to assign.

The media could not be loaded. Vocals are in your room real. Cymbals, violins, have a true to the instrument timbre. Bass drums, bass guitar are detailed and full weight. Great instrument placement, great depth, and sound-stage. On a test bench - the frequency response it within 1db 20hz to beyond 30khz. Phase linearity is within 1db 30hz to 30khz. You can spend considerably more and not get the quality sound this preamplifier has.