Review on Parks Audio's Puffin Phono DSP: An Ideal Preamp for Enhanced Vinyl System Sound by Pavel Craig

I really hate to be a sign of controversy but as a phono preamp the Puffin just doesn't sound good. I bought this device with very high expectations based on very glowing reviews. Unfortunately, as a preamp aside, it produces a recessed, narrow soundstage, transient response is slow with soft leading edges, and extreme micro detail is hard to discern. I compared it to the cheaper Emotiva XPS-1 and the similarly priced ProJect Tube Box DS (using Tung Sol Gold pin tubes in EAT shocks). Modifications to the DSP settings to make the comparison as accurate as possible (e.g. setting the Puffin high-pass filter to 48 kHz since neither Project nor Emotiva have one) don't eliminate Puffin's main shortcomings. Both Emotiva and ProJect (though very different devices; the former is a bit raw and unprocessed but engaging, the latter surprisingly insightful and dynamic for its price) evoked an emotional sense of urgency that engaged the listener. Deadlock gave no such opportunity. Without this, manipulation of the DSP really doesn't matter. To be honest I've played with "Air", "TF" etc. but they didn't widen the soundstage, push it forward or improve transient response. The micro detail that was toned down with Puffin (unlike the others) didn't necessarily become more apparent as more Air was applied, but overall the performance became more astringent and uncomfortable. Ironically (and I know that the ProJect Tube Box DS is a hybrid preamp, not an all-tube preamp), Puffin's "TF" send function is on the "Tube" and/or "Tape" of the ProJect Tube Box DS set. it just sounded more connected. I hadn't used the Emotiva XPS-1 for a while before I bought the Puffin and I forgot how energetic this device was despite its roughness. All in all, I finally got Dead End back. While the Emotiva and Project don't have any of the Puffin DSP features, as a basic phono stage I found the other units to be superior.