Audio Research SP20Price: $9000

Website: www.audioresearch.com

Vade said: Do the math: For $9000, you get a preamp roughly equivalent to $15,500 in separates. More important, it sounds wonderful. The frosting on the cake is that all of this quality and value are packed into a case whose beauty rivals almost anything on the market. What’s not to like? I’m buying the review sample.

Read the SoundStage! Ultra review.

The gist: ARC’s best, short of their Reference preamps.