Blast from my past – Amongst my tubular dalliances, Vinnie Rossi's L2 Signature preamp with headfi ports stands tallest because I still own it. Once I divested myself of all valve amplifiers, I concluded that really the best way to hear direct-heated triodes aka DHT is in a source/preamp where they drive a fixed high amplifier impedance rather than low variable speaker load; and without classic capacitor or transformer coupling. I did review transformer-coupled Manley Labs and Allnic Audio 300B preamps but Vinnie Rossi's direct-coupled grounded-grid implementation took the cake. It's since been replaced by the Brama 2 preamp with switch-mode power supply and BT remote. We'd expect it to beat my older L2 but as they say, ignorance is bliss and my one lone resident with glowing glass—WE 300B no less—sings that song. Built like a tank, reliable to a fault and flexible with 2.5/4/5V bias option to take a plethora of bottles, I don't think I'll ever let it go. It's how a blast from the past can last into the now. It also reminds us that just because it's been discontinued, a fabulous product doesn't suddenly diminish in desirability or become irrelevant.
