If you want to go cheap, the passive adcom 750 is very good with this amp.
In general, tube preamps are much better than solid state with this amp. I use a vk-5i with my mk2. I find that it is as good as the ref1 I previously owned. Different, but in the same general league sonically.
Of all the preamps I have heard with it, bat vk-50SE/vk30SE are the best.
Some of the lower line arc preamps the ls2 and ls16 ) are not the most impressive. They lacked transparency and energy. I heard them mated with solid state amps which may have been the problem.
In general, tube preamps are much better than solid state with this amp. I use a vk-5i with my mk2. I find that it is as good as the ref1 I previously owned. Different, but in the same general league sonically.
Of all the preamps I have heard with it, bat vk-50SE/vk30SE are the best.
Some of the lower line arc preamps the ls2 and ls16 ) are not the most impressive. They lacked transparency and energy. I heard them mated with solid state amps which may have been the problem.