Has anyone compared the 990 for use as an pure analog bypass preamp to a good stereo preamp, or to the Sony multichannel analog preamp?

So far, I found this little comment from BB on the 990's analog performance:
Not quite sure if that is good or bad though???

I'm slowly moving from a stereo system to a 5.1 (or possibly 7.1 system). My main interest is high-quality two channel reproduction -- my wife likes movies.

When my existing preamp died (B&O 5500, c. 1987), I purchased the 990 and am quite pleased with it. I do not find a reduction in level when switching as described. (Perhaps the fact that I'm using balanced outputs to drive my Odyssey Stratos Plus amp has something to do with it).

Speakers are currently Bohlender-Graebner Radia 520i, crossed to a custom Acoustic Visions sealed 96l Q=0.6 sub at 80 Hz via the 990. While not full range mains consistent with a high-end system (they do not like energy below 80 Hz as they only sport two 6" woofers), they are extremely revealing in the midrange and upper end. (I'm torn whether to keep them as mains or repair the ribbons in my old Carver Silver ALS and use them as surrounds -- they're BIG for surrounds).

i am very impressed with the bypass .. i go from musichall 25 analog to 990 the out to my audiocontrol octave.. to ati1506 to my tannoy dmt12II's sounds as good as my old adcom gtp.. the stereo setting doesnt do anything for me .. but the umsample is nice to hear.. bypass has won for 2 channel.. i find the analog cd input stronger than the digital inputs.. i listen to dvd at about 15 loud to 30 normal listening.. and when go to cd bypass 20 is really rocking ..

I have been very pleased with the stereo performance of my 990. I use the 'bypass' setting and I have noticed a significant improvement over the Marantz receiver that I had been using as my preamp. I also believe that the 990 sounds better than my old Haffler stereo preamp.