I know some here like analog hardware talk and I've had the above preamp in for review for the last couple of weeks.  I often recommend the Warm WA12 as a (realitively) affordable preamp.  The Tone Beast is the same - only more.  there are switchable op-amps via knob, or you can open 'er up and use your choice of standard 6-pin op-amps.  There is a button to switch in/out a couple of "vintage" sounding caps that are in the WA12.  There is a switch for steel or 1/2 nickel transfomers - or no transfomer at all.  And both input and output knobs.  We can get some nice saturation or plain out distortion from those.
 
I also know there was some discussion of SOS's preamp shoot-out, and I can say matching the signal to the settings in the Tone Beast shows the flaws in their testing.  You can get a vintage tone out of it, all the way to the more modern sound, with more space between the grains of your sound.  Pretty cool.
 
If you are looking for a new preamp that covers a lot of sonic territory, this one is pretty cool.  $600 ain't chicken feed, but only $150 more than the WA12 for all the new features.  If you are into tweaking the sound, it is a good choice.  I haven't had so much fun w/ anlaog knobs since the RND Portico II's Silk button and knobs, esp. on a rich source like electric guitar.
 
Anyway, just a head's up for anyone in the market.
 
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thanks for the review, AT!
 
is it on sale yet?  I can't find it anywhere.  I can only find the WA12.

No, Reece, they are fixing to ship.  The one I have here is the one Mr. Warm was  tinkering with.  Feel free to come by to give it a work out. 

And happy birthday.  I doubt if I will make it to the shindig, but you never know.  I do love me barbeque.

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my problem would be finding time to make it out there.  but thanks for the invite!

and thanks for the birthday wishes! 

how much is the street price on these going to be?

Yea, I hear you about time.  But it ain't going anywhere - I'm going to keep it.  So if you are ever in the neighborhood ... Too bad the DFW group already did a preamp shootout.

The "street" price is the $600 list, as far as I know.  Have the WA12s come down at all?

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they're about $445.

if you're keeping it I might could try to make it out that way some day!

JP at the Kitchen studio had a great time w/ it while playing guitar - or I did anyway while he played.  You can certainly get different sounds out of it on complex sources like electric guitar.

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Thanks for sharing your real life review AT!


best regards,
mike

Beagle, if I'm not using it you can borrow it for a weekend or something when you have time to put 'er through the paces.

Mike, glad to see you hanging around.  Yea, those that say that preamps make no difference ain't using the right sources.  I haven't had more fun than since we did the same thing w/ the RND Portico w/ the variable silk knob.  Tons 'o fun.

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LIKE! I've been wanting a preamp that acutally does something to the sound, and this might be the ticket! I've tried the Golden Age stuff, but wasn't impressed (I did add something to the sound, but nothing useful IMO).