The Best Preamps 2025

1. Arcam - AV41 9.1.6-Ch. With Google Cast 8K Ultra HD HDR Compatible A/V Home Theater Preamplifier Processor - Gray

Arcam AV41 8K 16-Channel Immersive A/V Surround Processor

Enhance your home cinema with this Arcam AV41 audio/visual processor. The 16-channel surround-sound processing fills your room with intense, realistic audio for the ultimate in movie-watching. This Arcam AV41 audio/visual processor has streaming support over Google Chromecast and Apple AirPlay 2 so you can easily play audio directly from your smartphone, tablet, PC computer.

2. Rotel - RC-1572MKII Stereo Preamplifier - Black

Class AB power amplification section; FET buffered relays; nonconductive, low-resonance ABS casing; Bluetooth interface; USB port; trigger input; subwoofer and record output

Experience audio excellence with Rotel's RC-1572 MKII Stereo Preamplifier. Achieve stunning clarity and a natural soundstage with your analog and digital sources. Precision engineering, an ultra-low noise power supply, a high-performance moving magnet turntable input, and a premium DAC ensure exceptional performance. Easily customize settings for a superior listening experience with the included remote control. Enjoy high-quality streaming with aptX™ and AAC Bluetooth compatibility for your mobile devices. Maximize your music experience by pairing the RC-1572 MKII with your favorite Rotel amplifier(s) and reap the undeniable benefits of a separate component audio system.

3. Warm Audio - Single-Channel British Microphone Preamplifier - Black

Voice-activated; 8GB internal memory; up to 2,147 hours of recording in LP mode; pre-recording mode; bookmark function; 2" color LCD display; USB connectivity; up to 36 hours battery life

Enjoy vintage sound with this '73-style Warm Audio British microphone preamp. The custom Carnhill transformers help offer clean, sweet audio saturation during mixing, while the LED interface and front-facing knobs enable simple control. This single-channel Warm Audio British microphone preamp is hand-wired and hand-assembled for a high-quality construction, while the 19-inch rack-mountable design supports easy storage.

4. Warm Audio - Single-Channel British Microphone Preamplifier with Equalizer - Black

Voice-activated; 8GB internal memory; up to 2,147 hours of recording in LP mode; pre-recording mode; bookmark function; 2" color LCD display; USB connectivity; up to 36 hours battery life

Record rich sounds with this Warm Audio 73-style preamp. The fully discrete Carnhill transformers provide a balanced signal path, enabling intensive recording and mixing, while the complex dual switch potentiometers in the EQ sections offer reliability during usage. This Warm Audio 73-style preamp is hand-wired and hand-made for quality and durability.

5. Marantz - AV 10 125W 15.4-Ch Pre Amplifier - Black

Multiple channels; includes 1 set of rack ears; L/R input

The Marantz AV10 15.4 channel (125W X 15) Preamplifier is engineered to create the perfect home entertainment system. Your legacy content can now be rendered with cinema-level perfection at 8K/60Hz or at a smooth 4K/120 with 8K pass-through, Dolby Surround, and DTS Neural:X. The Marantz AV 10 delivers video content via 10 8K HDMI ports (7 In/3 Out), with Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG,4:4:4 Pure Color Sub-Sampling, BT.2020 Color Gamut, eARC support, and 21:9 widescreen support. It is ideal for gaming as well, with QFT and QMS enabling a smooth lag-free gaming experience, and VRR and ALLM eliminating screen tearing. Besides video, the AV 10 delivers amazing audio to your surround sound setup as well. You can set up your surround sound system in Dolby Atmos 9.6.4 or 11.4.4 channel configuration, with Dolby Height Virtualization and DTS Virtual:X eliminating the need for height speakers. Supports Dolby Atmos, IMAX Enhanced, and Auro 3D creating a truly immersive 3D audio experience. You can stream your music from Pandora, Spotify, and TIDAL, and play them wirelessly via HEOS Built-In, Wi-Fi, Airplay 2, or Bluetooth. Setting up the Marantz AV 10 is made easy with Audyssey MultEQ XT32 Technology, and the preamp is easy to use thanks to the new HD graphics user interface. Building upon the Marantz legacy and expertise garnered over the years, the AV 10 proudly carries forward the tradition of excellence in design, both on the inside and on the outside, and exceptional performance.

6. AudioControl - 10-Channel Digital Matrix Processor - Black

Compatible with select AudioControl processors or amplifiers; universal mounting; LED indicator; painted metal cover with metal knob

Hear the difference with this AudioControl Matrix digital signal processor. It lets you manipulate and control signals via the computer-interfaced smart app, and it has up to 10 preamp channel outputs for a flexible, powerful setup. This eight-input AudioControl Matrix digital signal processor operates on an expansive 20Hz - 24kHz frequency response.

7. AudioControl - 2-Channel Active Line Output Converter and Line Driver - Black

Marantz PM-10 2-Ch Reference Class Integrated Amplifier employs a dual-mono design with separate power supplies for preamplifier and the power amplifiers for a noise-free, dynamic sound quality. This amp can be configured as a stereo integrated amplifier or set up with other PM-10 units for dual or multichannel operation. The latest HDAM-SA3 module supports ultra-high-resolution audio formats

Easily add an aftermarket amplifier to your vehicle’s factory audio system with this 2-Channel Active Line Output Converter and Line Driver by AudioControl. The LC1i converts speaker-level (high-level) audio signals to RCA preamp (low-level) signals so you can install an aftermarket amplifier without replacing your factory radio. This two-channel line output converter and line driver can also be used to retain your vehicle’s OEM amplified audio system when replacing your factory radio.

8. AudioControl - The Epicenter Concert Series Digital Bass Restoration Processor - Black

Compatible with select AudioControl processors or amplifiers; universal mounting; LED indicator; painted metal cover with metal knob

Increase bass response from your vehicle’s audio system with The Epicenter Concert Series Digital Bass Restoration Processor by AudioControl. The Epicenter contains patented bass maximization circuity that analyzes the incoming audio signal from your source unit, recreates missing bass tones, and transmits this low-frequency information back into the signal path to increase bass response. This digital bass restoration processor also features parametric bass control and a subsonic filter for fine tuning.

9. Warm Audio - Four-Channel Microphone Preamplifier - Black

4 channels of console preamps; 1U rack-mountable design; output trim; tone switch; fully discrete socketed 6-pin op-amp; Altran input and output transformers; 65dB of gain

Experience vintage magic with this Warm Audio four-channel microphone preamp. Each channel features a tone switch, letting you choose between a neutral, open sound or a warmer, more classic console tone. This Warm Audio four-channel microphone preamp features unique custom transformers to provide an extended low-frequency response and employs a vintage winding technique for increased smoothness.

10. Marantz - 13.2 Channel Pre-Amp, Dolby Atmos, DTS, IMAX Enhanced & Auro-3D, Built-In HEOS, Amazon Alexa - Black

Speaker A/B switching; 2 RCA audio lines; 8 ohms impedance

Enjoy unmatchable audio and visual quality on a variety of sources with the powerful AV8805A 13.2 AV Processor by Marantz that delivers balanced and premium sound quality. Compatible with latest sound formats like Dolby Atmos, Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization Technology, DTS:X, DTS Virtual:X, DTS:X Pro, IMAX Enhanced, and Auro-3D, this AV preamp takes your home entertainment up a notch with pristine video and immersive audio. Featuring 8 HDMI inputs / 3 HDMI outputs with a dedicated 8K input, analog, optical and coaxial inputs, a phono input, a USB port, an AM/FM tuner, this home theater preamp allows various connection options for DVD & Blu-Ray Players, Subwoofers, Speakers, Turntables etc. Enjoy exquisite video performance with the latest HDMI technologies such as 8K/60Hz pass-through or upscaling, various HDR format support including HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG) and Dynamic HDR, as well as the latest gaming technologies such Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) and Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM). The AV8805 allows effortless and flexible voice control on all the major voice agents like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Josh.ai, Apple Siri and AirPlay 2. Play music or control your home appliances, light, and speakers optimally from any corner of your house with just a voice command. Featuring wireless streaming through built-in Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and HEOS, this preamp allows you to seamlessly play music from your favorite streaming apps like Spotify, Tidal, TuneIn, Deezer, and Pandora. Adding to the many features, the Marantz preamplifier gives you a whole-home audio experience with its multi-room and multi-source streaming options. The built-in HEOS technology lets you play the same song in every room or a different song in each room without any interruption. Be mesmerized by a superb cinematic experience with Marantz’s 60 years of audiophile heritage.