Soulution Audio 727 preamplifier
The 727 delivers source-faithful transparency with rich instrumental color, iron-fisted bass control and finely focused three-dimensional images. Stereophile praised its natural timbres, composure and timing, while The Absolute Sound highlighted exceptional detail retrieval without an analytical edge. Optional MM/MC phono capability makes this a formidable reference-level control center for ambitious analog and digital systems.
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Deliciously Crispy
Sound Quality
95/100
Build Quality
83/100
Features Connectivity
89/100
Value for Money
85/100
Pros
Exceptionally natural, uncolored timbres and faithful resolution reveal musical detail without turning analytical.
Firm, precisely pitched bass, excellent timing and clear handling of dense passages provide commanding full-range control.
Image delineation and preserved three-dimensional body create a focused, lifelike spatial presentation.
Cons
A rival preamplifier produced a wider, deeper soundstage and more surrounding air in Stereophile's system.
The 28kg/62lb chassis may require help to position on a rack.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 95/100
Reviewers describe an exceptionally transparent, natural and complete-sounding preamplifier that preserves musical detail without turning analytical. It is also praised for firm control, lifelike instrumental color and finely resolved three-dimensional images, although one comparison found a competing preamp produced a wider and deeper stage.
Transparency Resolution
97/100
Stereophile calls the 727's fidelity to the source "truth-telling veracity" and says it has no sound of its own, instead stepping aside for artists and engineers. The Absolute Sound likewise highlights its ability to reveal lifelike musical and performance detail without analytical edge.
Tonal Balance Musicality
96/100
Stereophile found timbres completely natural, uncolored and true to the source, with a gorgeous midrange and lively but never overly bright highs. Its description of instruments as unforced and unadorned aligns with The Absolute Sound's praise for unusually lifelike musical reproduction.
Dynamics
94/100
The 727 remained clear and uncongested during demanding musical passages, while bass was described as firm, precisely pitched and correctly colored. Stereophile also praised its control from the deepest bass through the highest treble, along with excellent timing.
Soundstage Imaging
93/100
The Absolute Sound credits the 727 with better image delineation while retaining the three-dimensional body associated with Soulution's presentation. Stereophile noted that the comparison Relentless amplifier created a wider and deeper stage in that particular system, tempering the otherwise strong spatial praise.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
83/100
The specifications indicate a substantial 28kg chassis, very low stated noise and distortion, high channel separation, and exceptionally low output impedance. The supplied reviews, however, say little about casework, controls, internal construction or long-term ownership quality.
Features Connectivity
89/100
The 727 provides three balanced XLR and two RCA line inputs, two balanced output pairs, and an additional RCA output. An optional adjustable MM/MC phono module turns it into a full-function preamplifier, though the supplied information does not identify conveniences such as remote control, headphone listening or home-theater bypass.
Value for Money
85/100
At $74,975, with the optional MM/MC phono card priced at $11,975, the 727 is positioned firmly at the luxury end of the market. The Absolute Sound gave it its highest recommendation, named it 2024 Solid-State Preamplifier of the Year and called it a landmark design, but the reviews do not directly compare its value with similarly priced rivals.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
Online Reviews & Mentions
YouTube Reviews
Forum Mentions
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Specifications
- Mains
- 220 – 240V (50 – 60 Hz) 100 – 120V (50 – 60 Hz)
- Power consumption
- < 1W standby 60W device in operation
- Inputs
- 3 × balanced (XLR) 2 × unbalanced (RCA) 1 × Phono (optional)
- Input impedance
- 4.4MΩ balanced (XLR) 4.4MΩ unbalanced(RCA) 10 – 1000Ω or 47kΩ phono (adjustable)
- Input voltage max.
- 9Vpp
- Outputs
- 2 × balanced (XLR) 1 × unbalanced (RCA)
- Output impedance
- 0.8Ω balanced (XLR) 0.4Ω unbalanced (RCA)
- Output voltage max
- 14Vpp balanced (XLR) 7Vpp unbalanced (RCA)
- Output current max.
- 0.5A limited by protection circuit
- Frequency response (– 3 dB)
- DC - 20MHz
- Phaseshift (@20kHz)
- < 0.2°
- Signal-to-noise ratio (20Hz – 20kHz @1Vrms)
- >120dB
- Noise density (input related)
- < -160dBV/sqrt(Hz)
- THD+N
- <-120dB
- Common mode rejection ratio
- >105dB
- Channel separation
- >130dB
- Gain
- +4dB balanced (XLR) -2dB unbalanced (RCA) +44dB to +84dB (phono)
- Volume control range
- 0 to – 79 dB in 1 dB steps
- Dimensions
- 480mm x 450mm x 167mm
- Weight
- 28kg
Manufacturer's Description — Soulution Audio
What a difference noise makes!
soulution’s new reference preamplifier sets new benchmarks in terms of noise, phase errors, common mode rejection and distortion.
Input stage
The innovative input stage of the727 preamplifier enables exceptional common mode rejection without compromising the input stage by introducing noise. This is achieved with parallelized instrumentation amplifiers designed for wide bandwidth (20MHz), lowest noise (noise density < -160dBV/√Hz) and optimal common mode rejection (CMMR >105dB). This ensures that even the faintest musical signals can be properly received by the 727 preamplifier.
Volume control
Relay-switched high precision metal foil resistors form an 80 step (1 dB) volume control. Each channel has its own volume control resistor network. The volume control also allows balance adjustment. To avoid unpleasant clicking noises or harmful voltage peaks during volume adjustments, the 727 preamplifier is provided with a second volume control path which is active only during volume adjustments. This secondary, IC based volume control alters the volume without any click or pops. Once the new volume is set, the 727 will revert to the sonically superior path with its high-precision metal foil resistors.
Phono-preamplifier(optional)
Small and fine output signals, especially from MC cartridges, are received by an instrumentation amplifier optimised for lowest noise and highest common mode rejection. With its adjustable gain (+40 dB to +80 dB @ 1kHz) and termination impedance (20Ω to 1kΩ, 47kΩ, 0pF to 70pF) the phono input can be adapted very precisely to your pickup system. The use of very fast amplifier stages (-3dB @ 2MHz) ensures highly accurate reproduction of the RIAA equalization curve (frequency and phase response).
Output stage
The Class-A output stage has been optimised for speed, precision and high peak currents. Thanks to its low output resistance the output stage can drive even long cables without difficulty. With a frequency bandwidth of 20 MHz (-3 dB) and the accompanying minimal phase shift in the audio band, all details of the music are reproduced true to life. The result is a three-dimensional spatial sound experience full of musicality and natural timbres. The sheer power of the output stage guarantees that the rich detail of the music reaches your power amplifier.
Distributed Local Power Supply:
The basis for the dual mono power supply of the 727 preamplifier is a switched mode power supply (SMPS) which converts mains voltage into an intermediate DC voltage. Highly efficient DC-DC converters and extremely low-noise and fast linear regulators generate the supply voltages needed to operate the 727 preamplifier. Local linear regulators are placed next to each current sink (OpAmp, transistor, etc.). This ensures lowest noise levels on the analog supplies and shortest signal paths. Large filter capacitors, as typically used for linear power supplies with transformers and rectifiers, are no longer required.
Verified Dealers
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Authorized dealers for Soulution Audio 727 preamplifier
- The Audio Association — in-store — Anaheim, California, United States (website)
- Addicted to Audio — online and in-store — Epping, Victoria, Australia (website)
- Ann Arbor Audio Design — in-store — Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States (website)
- Audiofeel — in-store — Doetinchem, Gelderland, Netherlands (website)
- Creative Audio of Tennessee — online and in-store — Franklin, Tennessee, United States (website)
- Delve Audio — in-store — Caldwell, New Jersey, United States (website)
- Element Acoustics — Canada (website)
- Euphoria Hifi — in-store — Southlake, Texas, United States (website)
- Farnsworth Audio — in-store — Draper, Utah, United States (website)
- Harmony House Audio — in-store — Arlington Heights, Illinois, United States (website)
and 17 more verified dealers