It also allows you to hear qualities and the lack there of in recordings, a very revealing unit. The build quality is very good, but over all looks are plain. Highly recommended to all audiophiles. Warm, totally focused sound. Capable of amazing detail.
Strings especially sound great.
Tubes are soldered into circuit board. Makes it almost impossible to audition different tubes. I had The Soundsmith in Peekskill, NY add sockets. Now it is a truly great preamp. The chinese tubes that come with it are marginal at best.