RADAR is a price search engine. We link to the original listing — we never sell direct. Transactions happen on the source site.
The timing matters less than the condition: the Pre1 remains Lab12’s current line preamplifier rather than an obsolete generation. At US$2,199, this is a fair-to-good buy—just above the US$2,122 median, comfortably below the US$2,772 75th percentile, and well within the recent market rather than an ambitious ask.
It earns that position with a genuinely useful design: a matched pair of 6922 tubes, no-feedback Class A circuitry, five RCA line inputs, and both RCA and XLR outputs. Its 21 dB gain and 900-ohm output impedance make it flexible with many power amplifiers, while the toroidal supply, Alps volume control, remote, and strong musical, spacious presentation add practical appeal. Confirm the remote, tube condition, correct mains voltage, and clean channel balance; with those in order, this looks like a sensible opportunity rather than a risky bargain.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
Lab 12 is a Greek hi-fi brand founded in 2012 by Stratos Vichos in Athens, with a clear identity built around handmade tube electronics. The company was established to make valve gear feel more usable and less precious than the old stereotype of temperamental, obscure tube audio.
Its core product focus is tube amplification: integrated amplifiers, power amplifiers, preamps, phono stages, and DACs. Available coverage and dealer listings point to a catalogue centered on models like the Integre4, Mighty, and DAC1 Reference, which reinforces that Lab 12 is primarily an electronics brand rather than one spanning speakers, turntables, headphones, or cables.
In the market, Lab 12 sits in the high-end niche boutique segment. It is known for artisanal construction, valve-based designs, and a slightly adventurous engineering identity that appeals to experienced listeners who want something distinctive rather than mainstream. It is not a mass-market brand, and its reputation is strongest among enthusiasts looking for serious, characterful tube hi-fi with a European boutique pedigree.
See all Lab 12 listings on RADAR.
