Pre/Power Amplifiers

AVM’s flagship preamplifier is a very tidy product. The moment you power it up it reverts to a brief ‘housekeeping’ mode where it checks to see which of the optional input/output cards are fitted. This, in turn, enables features including MM/MC input sensitivities if the phono card is fitted; the choice of USB, coaxial or optical inputs on the DAC card; and the option to defeat or adjust the bass/treble feature on the ‘Input+Tone’ module. And if the tube-based output module is detected by this housekeeping, operation of the preamp is delayed until the triodes are warmed up. In its most basic form, the PA 8.2 costs £6500 but you’ll need a choice or solid-state output stage (£1350) and/or tube output stage (£2650) along with a line input module, with balanced XLR connections, for £1350. The same input module with integrated tone controls costs £1700 while a fully configurable MM/MC phono card can be added for £1900. If you want digital functionality, then the USB-equipped DAC module comes in at £2650. PM