Music First Audio Baby Reference

For your consideration is the Music First Audio Baby Reference Preamp. For reasons I'll get to, this could be the most perfect audio component I've ever run into.

What makes it so special?
*There's no grunge or hash coming from the power supply because it doesn't have a power supply. No power is needed!

*It has an air-gapped Stevens & Billington transformer, which lets the musical signal pass unmolested, while killing line noise coming from upstream components. It also includes ground lift switches to troubleshoot a ground loop problem if you have one.

*It is a transformer based attenuator that creates an ideal impedance match between your source and amplifier. Check your dogma about passive preamps at the door; it is this impedance match that preserves frequency bandwidth at the extremes, unlike other passive attenuators. You need not fear the same absence of bass with this preamp.

*The sobering fact is that gain stages add noise and coloration. This device has no gain stages and doesn't need them provided that your source and amp are a cop-esthetic match (really your source needs to be of adequate quality and output sufficient voltage).

*Unlike other preamps, distortion is actually decreased with increasing volume.

*What other audio component in your signal chain decreases noise instead of adding it?

I feel strongly that you cannot know the transparency that your system is capable of until you try a device like this. For single ended amplification I can think of no better preamp at any price. As such, it is a superb match for the SET amp I have in another listing.

It is in pristine condition (conservatively rating a 9) and comes in it's original flight case with manual. It comes in limited edition "all black" finish. I also had the knobs custom finished in Gold PVD (physical vapor deposition). This finish is not offered by Music First Audio, I had to seek out a firm to do this for me. Unlike traditional gold plating, PVD will never wear out, and is the same technology used to finish bathroom fixtures.

The only reason for the sale is I'm transitioning towards consolidating components and "fewer boxes" and have moved to an Integrated. If I ever moved back to separates I would get this again without hesitation.

The reviews:
http://www.stereophile.com/content/music-first-audio-baby-reference-passive-preamplifier#61hhtVOSM764r9eX.97

http://www.dagogo.com/music-first-audio-baby-reference-preamplifier-review

http://www.hifiplus.com/articles/music-first-audio-baby-reference-preamplifier/