Hmm... 
Only gave it one read through, but the reviewer was pleased overall with the unit, but "only as a linestage", as the phono stage was "grainy" with whatever Grado cart was used (can't remember which one...one of the woodies). Credit was given to the simple-yet-effective design, as well as the power regulation vis-a-vie the tubes. Wish I could remember more, but the bookstore is right next to the grocery store so I'll be able to pop in again and give it a more thorough once over (wish I had one of those spy-cam thingies to takes pics...). Also, the reviewer said it would be best with a "romantic" amp, as the T8 "wasn't tubey enough" (quotes estimated, gist the same).
I should add that while I interpreted it as a good review, I could imagine a lot of other people not being thrilled with it, as it wasn't didn't give the impression that the equipment was sprinkled with magic audio dust. Not that I wanted to read that, but still. I'm sure Frank will be able to offer a more thorough analysis, but if not I should get a chance to read it again within 5 days or so (running low on beer). 
I got something to say here,
I own the T8 phonostage, and I do have a comment on the "road test." Now I don't have a clue what the linestage sounds like, but with a good preamp (no brands implied here) you should not know it's there. If you can hear the way it sounds you gotta problem. Back to the T8 phonostage; I replaced my George Wright phono stage with the T8. Now many of you already know the Wright phono stages are nothing to be sneezed!
Very smooth and liquid in the way the handle music. Possibly a touch warm in the upper mid range, but I also like that. Before that it was a series of solid state phono stages that were OK if I was drunk. So I got this grand scheme of things and had Frank build me one. The sound was good right out of the box (hell I don't even have a clue what it looks like inside, and for all I know it may have a hamster in a squirrel cage in there). After maybe thirty hours of usage I think the bass was tighter, but not by a large margine. The upper mids are very airey and open (very open). Maybe not quite as warm as the Wright, but still most excellent (not by my ears alone but from everyone that's heard it). If I had one complaint about it (actually I have two), I think it might be just a tiny bit lean on female vocals. Now TAS where's all that grainy sound you wrote about? I know for a fact that mine ain't got none! If I wanted to hear a grainy sound I'd still be fooling around with that Quicksilver preamp. Now for the other complaint! Frank, I wish you'd do two things in the layout at the rear of the box. Move the power cord connections (switched) to the otherside of the rear so the phono cables wont be near it (I'm not having a problem) and make one an IEC receptical with the others having a place for a grounding lug built into the power cord. I never bothered you about this as I thought it to be extremely petty, so don't send anybody over to my place to break my legs.
When I ordered my preamp I told Frank that I was a Grado junkie, and he said he'd set it up for me (thank you Frank). I also asked him to do a little bit of custom configuration for me, and he complied without a single "but why?" The first table and cartridge it was behind was my Final tool using a Graham Robin arm and a Denon D103 cartridge. Now I never could find a way to really get into the cartridge (just seemed dark and slow to me, but also not grainy). A couple weeks later I installed a Grado Reference Platnum, and it was a different world. Later I took the Final Tool down for a major upgrade (still down by the way), and put a Music Hall #5 in it's place. I have grown to hate that turntable even more by the day. Recently I went with the Consance Droplet 2.0 (or whatever they call it) and my Van Denhull modded SME IV tonearm. Also used his tonearm cable and the same old Grado cartridge. And there's still no grainy sound!!
Hey TAS do you want me to set your turntable up for you? With the Final Tool I used a Zu phono cable, and Synergistics IC's (absolutly no grainy sound in my system, and I mean ZERO). With the new table I used the Van Denhull phono cable and his tone arm wires. The IC's are Zu's. What was the difference? Like a ride on the Apollo Moon Rocket!
The Final Tool is probably a better turntable, but can't lay my hands on the pieces to make it work with the SME tonearm. Maybe the TAS needs to come over to my house and borrow my table for a couple weeks.
Back to the T8 a minute. I'd love to see an addition of an internal steup transformer that could be switched from the rear. And maybe WBT connections (I know it's only money). This preamp is so quiet that you almost forget it's there (much quieter than the Wright). I truely believe that it's on the verge of running with the "big dogs." At about one third of the price (that's a good bit of sour mash whiskey). Maybe you should have gold plated the face plate and added five or six leds that do nothing!
I stand behind what I posted here, and to let you guys know Frank didn't even offer me a good cigar!
gary
