Yes Don, hope I didnt offend, was only playing up, hence the comment above my avatar....purchased a welborne labs battery powered pre....2 x ecc86 valves with some spares.. Superb! it was from JJ (mainly on wam) I listened to a few, but stumbled on this by chance really. i was about to buy a power amp, when he suggested I try his pre....it only has 3 inputs, but really is quite good...Have a look at the welborne site....its the ultrapath model. www.welbornelabs.com For the price it really is miles better than many ive heard...clean and musical, perhaps a little bright...Ill buy some expensive cables to sort this though 