I would get a pre-amp that helps your system and room become more cohesive via room correction/DSP.. Something like DSPeaker Anti-Mode, an NAD preamp with Dirac or an Anthem pre-amp with ARC. The DSPeaker preamp will work with 4 subs so your 3 subs would be NP:
Advice? Less than $4k, solid state preamp, neutral to gentle
There are many many posts about recommendations for preamps, so many to sift through that I thought getting a couple answers off the top of your heads might be ok to ask for.
Here's my situation: I am looking for a backup, solid state preamp to work with (a) Quicksilver mono block amps and (b) a Pass XA 25. I have (c) two DACs that I like, a Schiit Bifrost 2/64 and a modded-out MHDT Orchid. My speakers (d) are Ascend Acoustics Sierra Towers w/RAAL tweeters, and I have three subs.
My current preamps are both tube -- one is a 6SN7 preamp similar to an Ultraverve 3 and the other is a Quicksilver Line Stage.
I like having solid state alternatives to tube gear both to hear different sonic presentations and also in case I want to give tubes a break or if a tube goes bad.
I have tried autoformer preamps (more or less a straight wire with gain) such as the Bent Tapx and I don't like it on my system. I need a bit more.
If money was no object, I'd probably go drop $5k on an Ayre KX-5. That is a bit steep for me at the moment.
So, the question is: What solid state preamp, less than $4k, used or new, would you recommend to give a fairly neutral to warm/gentle presentation? Or that you simply like for reliability, interface, etc.?
Thanks.