Price Paid:  $100.00 from used

Summary:
If you can read and follow directions, you can build this preamp. For the price, you get great support and a nice sounding little preamp. I bought mine used, added the snubbers mod, changed the pots to shunt mode, and upgraded to audiocaps. If I were to build it from the ground up I would use better parts (connectors, wire, tube sockets, etc...). There is an audible hum that I could not get rid of, and overall the thing looks terribly ugly. But it sounds incredibly good. The sound is front and center, fast, sharp and detailed. It dose shrink the soundstage between the speakers, and the bass is totally enemic. I also noticed a slightly forward upper mid-range. This made the music tilted a bit forward and upward in the freq. range. Dose the foreplay compare to costly 'audiophile' preamps costing lots more...NO. The CJ and ARC preamps I have are certainly more refined, there is really no comparison. But for 150 bucks for the kit, you get an incredible sounding preamp. I have not done all the mods, but I don't doubt they increase its performance. In the right system, this thing will sound way better than a 150 preamp should. You can tweak it to best fit your system too. I think you can do better on the used market for around $500, but there are a lot of preamps in this price range that will stuggle to keep up with the foreplay. I am guessing it will work best for a low powered set amp in stock form as I needed to pad down the output too much for my ss amp. In the right system I think this thing could be incredibly good. A good set amp, some high efficient speakers, descent cd player, and the foreplay should make for a nice little system. For the price you can't afford not to build one!

Strengths:
great value, descent sound, endless tweeks

Weaknesses:
It is a noisy ugly little thing that lacks refinement.

Similar Products Used:
ARC LS-1 CJ PV12AL ADCOM GTP 350 Mccormack DNA0.5 Rev Mod B B & k st 140 Cal audio dac/transport Ellis 1801 speakers

Price Paid:  $150.00 from bottlehead.com

Summary:
Fancying a new challenge in life and recently experiencing first hand 'tube audio' i stumbled across this pre amp by accident one day surfing the web. ordered - 6 weeks later delivered - 1 week later (or 4 hours of work) its working.... ....3 words...simple, startling, special. this spanks the monkeys out of the NAD pre amp on my 370. Sure the bass is not as 'sudden' but detail, clarity, warmth and vocals.....and guitars, drums....everything...stunning. The bass can be improved with one simple retro fit kit for 75$ called the anticipation....im yet to do this as im currently very happy with this kit...as one reviewer stated..."if this was the only pre amp i could have...i would be a happy man"...i concur. if i had to pay 3/4 times this i would not be upset.

Strengths:
detail natural sound cost upgradeable service

Weaknesses:
at this price..ARE YOU KIDDING?

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
Hmm. The Foreplay is cheap, yes, but not so cheap after you've bought the various gear and supplies needed to make it. If you're unlikely to use them again, this adds up. Yes, the design is simple but mistakes are still easy to make. Such as a short amid the many crowded wires and poof. Mine has hum which I cannot locate. In any case, I bought another pre (Audio Note) which to my ears sounds better (but costs plenty more). There are a growing number of budget tube preamps and amps out there. I won't name any because you'll think I'm shilling for another manufacturer. My basic point is that if you are trying to save money and really have no taste or experience with DIY, I'd consider shopping elsewhere. That said, Bottlehead's service is superb, the price is cheap and the sound is good. I'm not complaining, just cautioning.

Price Paid:  $200.00 from by phone to bottlehe

Summary:
Superb product. If you have the patience to take a soldering iron, etc. in hand for a few satisfying hours, awesome sound awaits you. But, there is a period of 'shake out' due to cold soldered joints? or just missing a direction in the great instructions (you have to be near-blind). I have had numerous receivers, integrated amps, and preamps over the years, and none compare: nearest is a pristine Dyna PAS2 I have, but still the Foreplay excels at: razor sharp imaging, vocals (oh that's what that lyric is!), bass (clear and sharp), and silky highs. Be aware that the output is standard to other tube amps, and may need tweaking to mate to a solid state amp, but by the time you finish building, and go to the numerous websites that support this gift to audiophiles everywhere, YOU can do it. Smile! Great intro to tube sound, building it yourself brings satisfaction and bragging rights. Highly recommended.

Strengths:
Spectacular bargain, with infinite upgrade path (both in complexity and cost). Simple design equals pure sound.

Weaknesses:
Appearance: low WAF due to exposed tubes, wires, interconnects, etc. But you hide it in a box, or behind a curtain ... worth it for the sound.

Similar Products Used:
Dyna PAS2

Price Paid:  $149.00 from Official web-site

Summary:
First time thinkering with DIY kits, the instruction was extremely user friendly, it took me three evening approximately twelve hours to complete the assembly. However, due to the unsatisfactory soldering works (my first experience), it did not pass the first test. I have Managed to get help from friends for some monior re-soldering and finally got everything fixed up. Fired up the Foreplay with Musical Fidelity Typhoons (one to each channel), and I was impressed with the sound. It sounds very open and the bass is tighter than my MF Preamp. The only thing that could be improved is the refinement, as compared with my MF Preamp which is more musical, which I hope it could be achieve through the upgrade kits. In any case, I would not hesitate to recommend to anyone who is looking for the first DIY kit, it is simple and easy to put together, at the price which I think is extremely good value for money and sound in way above it worth. I will keep it as my reserve unit.

Strengths:
Simple assembly, sounds very open, airy and the bass is tight and well define.

Weaknesses:
Does not come with 220V power input, I have to use a step-down tranformer. Lack of refinement as compared with established products.

Similar Products Used:
MF Preamp/Typhoon, Matisse Atom.