AV Preamplifier News

The most complex component in all of home theater is the AV preamp. Consumers are wary of the category as the HDMI standard has changed more time than Cher at a Las Vegas show. AV Preamps are like computers thus don't hold their values like stereo preamps or power amps but they represent the merger of the idea of a surround sound processor and a stereo preamp thus potential system simplicity for many home theater enthusiasts and audiophiles looking for 5.1 or 7.1 sound. For a full archive of AV Preamp Reviews
read this page from HomeTheaterReview.com.

  • Burson’s New Stellar Duo Is Designed to Drive Everything From IEMs to Planars

    The new Conductor Stellar and Soloist Stellar combine Class-A power and modern connectivity in compact desktop designs.

  • Rega Aos MC: The Phono Stage That Steals Tricks From a $7,000 Flagship

    Rega’s new Aos MC phono stage arrives as a way to bring some of the Aura’s engineering into a price range more vinyl listeners actually shop in.

  • The UltraPhono Pro Is MoFi’s Most Practical Phono Preamp Yet

    MoFi’s latest phono preamp, the UltraPhono Pro, takes core design ideas from its MasterPhono and packages them into something far more attainable.

  • Streaming, Discrete DAC, Class A Power: Esoteric’s Latest Duo Packs a Lot Into Two Boxes

    With the N-05XE and S-05XE, Esoteric brings together network streaming, a fully discrete DAC, a balanced preamp, and Class A amplification in a refined two-component setup.

  • Nagra Just Dropped a Mid-Tier Preamp That Looks Like a Lab Instrument (In a Good Way)

    The Preamp II-S is Nagra’s latest preamplifier, built to sit between its Compact and HD lines—and packed with features from both.

  • Pro-Ject’s New Headphone Amps Have the Power to Wake Up Any Pair of Cans

    The Head Box DS3 B and S3 B are Pro-Ject’s newest tools for getting more power and clarity out of your headphones.

  • Marantz Just Launched Its Most Affordable Separates Yet — and They’re Still Packed With Power

    With support for 11.4 channels, 8K video, and Dirac room correction, Marantz’s new AV 30 and AMP 30 offer a flexible path into separates-based home theater.

  • Onkyo Just Turned 80 — And Dropped the Most Surprising Streamer-Amps at CES 2026

    Onkyo just introduced a pair of modern two-channel amplifiers—the Muse Y-50 and Y-40—that pack serious power and streaming smarts into a compact box.

  • Musical Fidelity Just Launched a Compact Tube Phono Stage Built for Serious Vinyl Setups

    Designed to pair with the Nu-Vista 800.2 and 600.2, the Vinyl S offers tube-driven phono performance in a compact, configurable chassis.

  • The Jotunheim 3 Just Dropped — And It’s a Whole New Schiit

    If you thought the Jotunheim 2 was already a beast, Schiit just dropped a third version that quietly rewrites the rulebook.

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