What it is
Hi-Fi World 5/5 review (Noel Keywood, March 2009): "great preamp package... lively sense of clarity and the usual extra sense of spaciousness... super fast and vividly clean sounding valve preamplifier."
Fully balanced transformer-coupled architecture: 1× XLR pair + 5× RCA inputs; 2× XLR pair + 2× RCA outputs simultaneously available. Output transformer enables low-Z drive of long cables and any power amp.
Compatibility: ideal pairing with EAR 509 monos, 890 stereo, 534A — or EAR Yoshino integrated bypass. XLR balanced output also drives Sugden MPA-4, Naim NAP 350, Cyrus Mono X, Bryston, etc. Cross-brand partnerships well-documented (forum threads pair 868PL with Naim 552 replacements and ARC).
Who it comes up against
10 lost · Anchored, Artisan, Cavity-Native, Characterful, PRaT, Reference, Romantic, Silent Path
Against the Silent Path brief, the Music First Audio Baby Reference V2 keeps the slot decisively.
With the Whest Audio 60Se Pro, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.
With the Audio Note P1 SE, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.
On its own merits the EAR Yoshino 868L (Line) is the stronger preamplifier — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Whest Audio 60Se Pro gives up quietness at rest under the Silent Path weighting.
had not heard a better preampStereophile (Art Dudley) — Baby Reference V1 review
had not heard a better preampStereophile (Art Dudley) — Baby Reference V1 review
9 lost · Anchored, Artisan, Characterful, PRaT, Reference, Romantic, Silent Path
Against the Anchored brief, the Audiolab 9000Q keeps the slot clearly.
With the Musical Fidelity M8x Vinyl, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.
On its own merits the EAR Yoshino 868L (Line) is the weaker preamplifier for that brief.
S/N exceeding 112dB A-weighted, THD <0.002%Audiolab 9000P/Q HomeTheaterReview specs + Audio Tailor review
9 lost · Anchored, Artisan, Cavity-Native, Characterful, Intimate, PRaT, Reference, Romantic, Silent Path
Against the Anchored brief, the NVA P50 MKII keeps the slot clearly.
With the Audiolab 9000P, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.
With the Rega Aria Mk3 MM/MC, the pairing gains most on quietness at rest.
On its own merits the EAR Yoshino 868L (Line) is the stronger preamplifier — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Audiolab 9000P gives up quietness at rest under the Anchored weighting.
8 lost · Anchored, Artisan, Cavity-Native, Intimate, PRaT, Reference
Against the Anchored brief, the NVA P50SA MKII keeps the slot clearly.
With the Longdog Audio P6100M (pair), the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.
With the Rega Aria Mk3 MM/MC, the pairing gains most on quietness at rest.
On its own merits the EAR Yoshino 868L (Line) is the stronger preamplifier — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Longdog Audio P6100M (pair) gives up quietness at rest under the Anchored weighting.
pin sharp clarityNVA owner consensus (P50SA)
pin sharp clarityNVA owner consensus (P50SA)
4 lost · Cavity-Native, Characterful, Romantic
Against the Cavity-Native brief, the Leema Neutron keeps the slot clearly.
With the Leema Hydra II, the pairing gives up most on vocal presence.
On its own merits the EAR Yoshino 868L (Line) is the stronger preamplifier — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Leema Hydra II gives up vocal presence under the Cavity-Native weighting.
2 lost · Artisan, Reference
Against the Artisan brief, the Exposure 3510 Preamplifier keeps the slot clearly.
With the Exposure XM9 Biamp 2x2 (4 units), the pairing gives up most on vocal presence.
On its own merits the EAR Yoshino 868L (Line) is the stronger preamplifier — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Exposure XM9 Biamp 2x2 (4 units) gives up vocal presence under the Artisan weighting.
It sits well above the share of the budget this brief aims at the preamplifier position.
1 lost · Intimate
Against the Intimate brief, the Audio Note M2 Phono keeps the slot clearly.
With the Audio Note P1 SE, the pairing gives up most on midrange truth.
On its own merits the EAR Yoshino 868L (Line) is the stronger preamplifier — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Audio Note P1 SE gives up midrange truth under the Intimate weighting.
It sits well above the share of the budget this brief aims at the preamplifier position.
868L line preamp, Tim de Paravicini valve designEAR Yoshino 868L + multi-decade Stereophile heritage