audio horizons-Unhappy & Why

Why not just let your own ears decide. Audio Horizons has a money-back guarantee if it doesn't work out in your system.

As Sherod says, you should hear it in your system and let your ears decide. We all have different systems, rooms, ears and preferences.

However, since you have actively requested opinions from those who have heard one, I'll provide mine. I auditioned a TP2.1 with full upgrades and balanced outputs (I don't recall the official nomenclature of the model). I listened with stock tubes and with Siemens and Mullard NOS tubes.

To me, it was very similar in sound to solid state, with a fairly flat image. It did have good tonal balance, and good extension. However, I much preferred a Lamm LL2 Deluxe. At the time, I was using it with Belles 150A Reference monoblocks running in balanced mode, and the speakers were Silverline Sonata III. Cabling was Purist Audio Venustas and Oyaide PA-02. Power cord was a Purist Audio Dominus Ferrox.

YMMV.

For about $1K NOS Upscale and Audio Advispor you can still pick up the AE-3 a Cary sub brand. It uses a rectifier in the mkII and a pair 6SN7s. They are the least expensive tube and easiest to roll. It has remote but only rca inputs and no phono.
The one thing it does superbly is image like mad. It's really a great little pre. If you want a phono then you have to use a seperate phono stage. That might be a deal breaker for you.
The used ones are less than $500 bucks mine is a mark I no remote cost me $300 used here and couldn't be more pleased. I found that it responds very well to using different tubes but they all sound good just some are better than good.