Here at Backert Labs, we only make home stereo preamps. This is why we are “The Preamp Specialists.” To help you in your search, here are the 5 most important things to look for as you select a preamp for your home stereo system:
1. Sound quality. That’s what it’s all about, isn’t it? Magazine reviews by people you’ve never met are only going to help so much. To get a handle on whether a preamp has the sound you want, it’s helpful to evaluate one in your own home. Buying direct from Backert Labs allows you to do that, but also, many dealers will make similar arrangements or allow you to bring your power amp or speakers in to evaluate the sound in-store.
The most overlooked factor we recommend thinking about when you evaluate the sound quality of any preamp is this: does it make you feel like you’re hearing a performance that is “happening right now” in your room? Nobody talks about this, but we feel it’s critically important in getting the most enjoyment from your stereo system.
2. Best design. Consider the physical design, the ease of use, and most importantly, the design of the preamp’s circuit – i.e., the amplification and power supply circuits. Some of the advantages to our circuits: our power supply operates like no other, which is how we got it patented. One benefit is that it can use much higher quality/better sounding capacitors than are found in typical power supplies, and better capacitors leads to greater accuracy in the delivery of power to the amplification circuit. Our amplification circuit (gain stage) is also unusual, being especially focused on dynamic accuracy, while also being especially easy on your tubes, allowing them to last far longer than with other designs. And our more expensive models continuously bias your tubes, something other companies don’t bother with at all. Even our home theater bypass circuit has advantages that we are proud to offer.
Other design points to think about:
– Ask yourself whether you want a “pure tube” gain stage, or a “hybrid” that also uses transistors to amplify your music (ours uses only tubes to amplify).
– Be on the lookout for preamp brands that use multiple gain stages (i.e., sending your music through two amplifiers in a row, rather than just a single amplification stage, as we use in our linestages). Sending music through multiple amplifiers in a row can improve various specifications, but can also lead to impaired sound quality.
– Ask whether the manufacturer uses feedback, either global or local feedback, which is widely considered to be a sonic disadvantage (we do not use these).
– Ask whether the fundamental circuits are new and innovative, or simply reuse decades-old designs. One indication of new thinking is the presence of patented technology, such as the power supply used in all Backert Labs preamps.
– Watch out for strange claims, such as “heavier products are better.” Compare a 90-lb television from 1992 vs. a recent 4K LED design that you can carry under one arm… is the 1992 television better because it’s heavier? Or consider, if your preamp chassis is steel instead of aluminum to make it heavier, will that improve sound quality? (We find that steel definitely does NOT improve sound quality.)
3. Designed and assembled in the U.S.; use of quality components. It is important to us that each Backert Labs preamp is assembled by hand, by us, in the United States. The quality of the components we use is very high, although it can be difficult for audiophiles to know whether the “best” components are being used. At Backert Labs, elements such as the Elma selector switch, Furutech IEC inlet, custom-made toroidal power transformer, Iso-Acoustics feet on our more expensive preamps, and the fact that the aluminum for our chassis is machined right here in Pennsylvania are all signs that component quality is critical to us.
4. The people you’re dealing with. Do they seem like good people, who genuinely want you to end up with the best-sounding system possible? Do they have time for you? Or does it feel like they just want to “move boxes”? Are they focused on making the best preamps possible? Or, do they make and sell various different kinds of stereo components?
5. The features you want. It’s a legitimate question — do you want a preamp that is focused on providing many kinds of features, such as an internal DAC, phono stage, bass and treble controls, or other options? Or, are you most concerned with ultimate sound quality? This is an important question that will help direct you in your search for the perfect preamp. At Backert Labs, we fall into the second category, with our work primarily focused on producing the best possible sound quality.
