Price Paid:  $820.00

Summary:
SM-5 is very tranparent, details and easy on ear. When you get uesd to it, you can't get back to jeff, mark and Accuphase. I have been audition those product many times but I still prefer to stick with SM-5. jeff and mark are cold sound and lack smoothness, detail and soundstage that chord produced. But jeff and mark have a bit more solid bass. What about Accuphase, well it'ssmooth with add a little warm on sound but even less detail and soundstage which lack all about hi-end. Chord make me wonder why so many studio used it as their reference.(Stereophile don't rated it class A for no reason)

Strengths:
LOTS

Weaknesses:
NONE SO FAR

Price Paid:  $900.00 from demo

Summary:
This is a special pre-amp, both because it sounds wonderful, and is downright an oddball design. Not the most user friendly, and you definately have to read the manual. But its ability to provide first rate sound, mid-bass, and up, is beyonf reproach. I've listened to the CJ ART, and for my $$, the P-sm5 kills the ART. Also superior in most respects, sonically, to the Bryston BP25P, except there's no getting around the fact that the Bryston is more dynamic, having a degree of bass slam the P-sm5 lacks. Still, a fine product, and a very good buy on the used market.

Strengths:
It has all a 8k pre have

Weaknesses:
yet to discover

Price Paid:  $600.00 from audiogon

Summary:
I change my equipments very often but never change this pre amp.for the past 6 year cos I still can a pre that can beat this one in sound and price.Is warm and sweet like tube on the mid,liquid highs yet dynamic tight deep bass like solid state.Of course i don't compare those more than 8K pre.

Strengths:
Cheap yet good

Weaknesses:
NA so far as I know.

Price Paid:  $600.00 from secondhand shop

Summary:
this is really a class A pre after I hook up to my Krell KSA 250,I realised my krell sound like a 500 watter,the dynamic contrast is so wide,bass is real deep tight,seperation,depth,texture of mid improvement is evidence compared to my adcom 750.

Strengths:
very details yet quiet

Weaknesses:
no remote

Price Paid:  $1550.00 from Audio shop

Summary:
I used this pre for about 6 years nowand thought is time i change to a better pre but i've compared with few expensive branded pre like pass lab X series,Krell KRC 2,7B,Mark 26s,38 and i was surprised to find that the difference is very little but very dear price to pay.

Strengths:
pay a little get a lot.LOL

Weaknesses:
NO comments