Audio Note M3 Phono Tube Preamplifier

Uh oh.

I’ve fallen in love with two different tube preamplifiers today. Just that kind of Friday I guess!

Of course, these preamps could make anyone swoon. First it was the Aesthetix Calypso, and now it’s Audio Note’s delicious M3 Phono, which despite its name is not just a phono pre (although it is one stinkin’ beast of a phono pre) — it’s a full on line preamplifier, and it’s captured my heart, swiftly and easily.

This one is tube-based front to back, and uses interesting valves to craft its magical sound, like 6X5s, OB2s and 6072a tubes.

Bobby Hutcherson’s album Wise One is a record I’m wise to place on the queue when I fire up such a refined piece of equipment as this.

Why? Because well-recorded vibraphone is a really good measuring stick for components’ abilities to accurately portray a soundstage, and to hold those image positions firmly as the vibes move up and down the musical register. Any of Gary Burton’s wonderfully-recorded discs work just as well.

When an amp or a preamp makes those individual chime notes ring and hold still in empty space, you know it’s a magical device. That’s hard to accomplish.

I’ve found you can do a lot of work to perfectly place and align your speakers, but a magical element added like this Audio Note preamp can leapfrog much of the progress you made in one quick jump.

This M3 is another one of these game-elevator pieces that instantly raises the standards of a system it’s placed within. If you’re looking to work on your soundstage and “image lock,” I can’t think of a quicker path than trying something like this beautiful M3 Phono.