Music First audio Preamp Reference V2 - der Maßstab ! - Hifi + Editors Choice award 2024

Music First Audio traces its roots to 1963, when Stevens & Billington Limited was founded in the UK by Mr. Stevens and Mr. Billington as a specialist audio transformer winding business. Based in Rye, East Sussex, the company supplied custom wire-wound components to professional audio, broadcast, and hi-fi industries, including clients like Beyerdynamic, Quad, and Audio Note. After Stevens departed in 1971, Jonathan Billington—son of the remaining founder—took the helm, eventually rebranding and expanding into full hi-fi products under Music First Audio, leveraging decades of transformer expertise.

The brand specializes in handcrafted transformers at its core, powering a focused lineup of high-end passive preamplifiers, such as the renowned Classic and Mk.II models, which evolved from simple transformer volume controls to feature bi-amping and remote options. Their catalog emphasizes transformer-based amplifiers and related components, all handmade in their Rye Harbour workshop, prioritizing purity in signal path over active circuitry.

Positioned as a niche boutique in the high-end hi-fi market, Music First Audio commands respect among audiophiles for its transparent, detailed sound derived from proprietary transformers. While some critics note premium pricing, its cult following underscores a commitment to uncompromised analog performance, appealing to discerning buyers seeking transformer-driven elegance over mass-market alternatives.