Overload behaviour of 2 transistor Smart kit 1024 microphone preamplifier driven by Alan Parsons Sound Check 2 CD while driving headphones

Signal path: various test CDs - Sony CD Walkman - Solartron dB attenuator - Smart Kit 1024, R1=0Ohms, Vb=9V or 18V. Enjoy the Silence - Depeche Mode sounds big but not as airy smooth as on Pleiades V6. 1 KHz reference tone from Hitech magazine CD clips rather abruptly, within 1 dB input increment, posibly due to the negative feedback circuitry. Alan Parsons CD: Clipping behaviour of: Tenor, Soprano, Piano unacceptable, Male Rock Vocal nice, Guitars great, Electric guitar amazing distortion, Bass Guitar amazing sound, Flute amazing, Saxophone unbeleivable overtones, percussion poor, Kick Drum amazingly big, Snare Drum amazing crispness, Cymbals, Hi Hat big sound with distortion, Toms unbeleivable especiall bass tom sounding 10x bigger, deeper, Violins, cellos, Woodwind crap distortion, Orchestra String Music Track with boosted airness, Organ bad distortion. How would Pleiades Darlington mic preamp compare?