Does everything I need, no particular coloration or indeed any noticeable influence on sound.

I know that there is a number of features I do not need and at the same time cheap op-amps in signal path, so one could wish for better parts and less gizmos.
Probably little on the warm side, but it fits the rest of my sistem well.

I just needed a stereo preamp, so it was not the most obvious choice, but it was brand new, darn cheap and exacly what I needed.
I believe it is fine sounding, could be better but is kind of acceptable, remote was lost but now it obeys to Arcam DV27 handset's volume control.
Have not really compared with other preamps apart from Creek OBH 14 which is a dac with analogue input and passive volume control -- there were differences, but I cannot say if one or the other was clearly better sounding.

Customer Service

Did not need it apart from sourcing the remote, was adwised to forget about it as it would exceed the price I paid the unit if available at all.

Similar Products Used:

NAD 312 -- tried to by pass pre-amp section, it turned out to be a veak element indeed softening both top and bottom ends;
Creek OBH 14 used as passive pre had colder sound, but then it was more about beeing harsh than detailed, I suppose high output impedance was not welcome by poweramps.

Great sound Golden input connections

Remote control complexity (i can handle it but friends can't figure it out) 3 blown out imputs When you put it on standby, touching the buttons on the front won't turn it on, very handy if you've temporarily lost your remote!

The sound is great, just as the gold connectors in the back, the only thing is that i have already blown out three inputs VCR1, AUX, and CD for no apparent reason. Shouldn't there be some protection against this?

after owning my marantz 500 av preamp i decided to update it to the 550,boy what a mistake,while the 55o is newer i actually like the sound of the 500,i was told by a dealer that the 500 was built a little better and more of a audio preamp,the 500 has basically the same stuff as the 550,just a better build quality,the sound is excellent and probably the clearest you will hear the 550 is a good pre but for my money i am keeping the 500,my only problem is no phono stage so i had to add a outboard one adain this is a very good preamp