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Persuasive for all tastes? Perhaps not. If we change horses and question what happened to our sound bubble and the illusion that there's energized charged air oscillating around the guitar—and if we hear complaints about bloody reviewer poetry—-SAC's preamp seems to feel similarly. Airier lives elsewhere. The routinely mythical ability of valve gear which contrarious tongues might call reverb trails isn't part of La Finezza's employment history. And that belongs to its honest straight-ahead character of immediacy and unveiledness. With the SAC one feels a bit as though viewing the core of the sound. Preamps like the Octave add an outer layer of vibrant air which by implication will seem more diffuse, flighty and temporary than the hard inner core though some listeners find that airy envelopment important. Here I'm pragmatic. I like both. With the HP300 I admire the organic more opulent take on instruments and voices, with La Finezza the clearly greater accuracy and nude unconcealed view which translates as directness and emotional accessibility.

Conclusion. SAC's new La Finezza preamp lives up to its name. The deck is tonally neutral, transparent, resolved and denuded. Nuances are crystal and self-explanatory. For the money there's lots of quality. I knew quickly how I'd miss this machine. Such an unfiltered portal to the tunes one could get used to in a hurry. I'd have liked a balanced input, particularly an XLR output in trade perhaps for a tape monitor which I can't be the only one not to need. Many power amps sound better driven balanced as does mine. But those who connect purely single-ended and shop for a preamp in this price range really ought to audition the new SAC La Finezza.


Psych profile for SAC's La Finezza:
• Tonally text book neutral. Timbres are cleanly differentiated but noteworthy is the machine's high tone density which acts anything but pastel.
• The sub bass is equally present. Contour and pressurization tracks into the lowest reaches. A true forté.
• High resolving power also in the mid/treble bands. In the brilliance region other preamps will be airier and more nuanced but for a transistor deck in this price segment the SAC is well above average.
• High PraT not last due to first-class bass. Dynamically everything is spot on.
• The virtual stage starts with the speakers, not in front of them and there's isn't much lateral expanse beyond them either. Competitors will stage more broadly. Exceptional again is excellent depth illumination and even the farthest reaches are well sorted and lucid.
• Image location is rock solid. La Finezza models each sound with true focus and body. With the right album and a capable system this can approach true 3D. Fascinating. Those seeking performer auras will need to look elsewhere.
• Cosmetically basic, good finish, RCA socketry is tightly spaced.


Facts:
• Category: Line-level preamp with phono option
• Dimensions and weight: 44 x 8.5 x 35cm WxHxD incl. footers and controls, 5.7kg without PSU
• I/o: 6 x RCA input, 2 x rec out, 2 x pre out, 1 x through-out
• Other: Includes remote, MM/MC €349 option, big regulated power supply €498 option
• Power consumption: ~15w idle with big PSU, 10w with small one, no standby
• Warranty: 2 years
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