Best Used Tube Based Preamp $2k Or Under?

@nightfall Thanks also to those who have recommended Cary SLP-98’s, another unit I was considering, though they seem to be selling a bit over my $3k limit. And the Modwright LS100 is also a great recommendation you provided. I once owned one, and would have no trouble buying another one.

I wonder what you decided about moving beyond the MW LS100 and why - if you don’t mind the ak? I’m a happy Cary SLP-98 long term owner, and also enjoy following Dan’s designs for MW too. Good stuff. Like hearing from MW owners.

Looking back some I see Dan used/shipped some of the exact same OEM 6SN7 tubes I've used in my own 98 preamp.  Can share my own preamp is hyper-sensitive to the different 6sN7s I’ve tried in it. Tried more than a few.  Wondering why you moved on and what tubes you tried in our LS100 if you don’t mind sharing more as you seek another preamp.

@hilde45 Second, the Cary preamp has SIX 6SN7 tubes. That’s a lot of tubes. The Dehavilland has one.

Slight correction, fyi. Requires FOUR (4), not SIX. The other smaller 12xx7 are for phono section, if you choose to have phono. Yep, it does require a quad of 6SN7s though. Find your best quad, and order a backup quad for spares if you like them.

Tried several, still using either PSVANE or TJ Full Music in my 98 now. They are as good or better than any of my vintage 6SN7 black plates now stored away.  

https://caryaudio.com/products/slp-98/

@nightfall And yes, the quad of 6SN7's that the Cary SLP-98 uses concerns me a bit because of what a costs for a nice quad of those  NOS tubes. 

I have a set of very nice 4+2 [quad plus two spares] of 1960s Sylvania 6SN7GT Black Plates stored away - no longer in use. No need. They were originally NOS, now low use vintage. Guess what, my current re-issues from TJ Full Music and PSVANE Art Series MKII beat them sonically to my preference. The vintage have detail just not the smoothness and texture I hear from tubes I can buy new now. Imo, the older vintage tubes are old and getting to be long in the tooth now. They are my backups.The question on the new tubes is how long they'll last. So far so good on mine.  

I have notes on what Dan used in the Modwrights Preamps shipped out stock 5-7 years ago. I use the same OEM tubes rebranded from same provider, originally. 

@whitestix Its Tubes4Hifi...

 

They offer that new V23-K1 too, for $1925 assembled, with remote, has 6SN7s and rectifier tube with caps shown, (scroll down)

https://www.tubes4hifi.com/SP14.htm

@mbmi The best is AUDIO-GD Tube preamp. They are very musical and a great value.

Best of Luck on the Warranty and repairs, and shipping back and forth if you live in the USA. Here you go, enjoy, "to and fro!"   http://www.audio-gd.com/Warranty-EN.htm

Warranty, reads:

After the completion of First year Repair guarantee :
If the gears have any problems (manufacturing defects and which is not caused by the user), in this case, the customers only pay for both ways (to and fro) shipping costs ,the replace parts’ cost and repair labor charges.


User inflicted problem repair guarantee:
Customers must pay for both ways (to and fro) shipping ,the cost of parts and labor charges.

Might as well toss Holger's preamps in the ring. Tone controls anyone?

Aretha - 6SL7

https://www.erhard-audio.com/Aretha_MKII.html

Europa - 6922/E88CC

https://www.erhard-audio.com/Europa.html

@hightfall my friend had one for a year. Re-Sold it. He just wanted to try it for fun. No real "signature" that he commented about really - was a big collector of tube preamps and has owned and owns several of Dennis Had's Inspire Linestage units, another about to go up for sale later this year.  He felt the sound of Holger's preamp was more dependent the 6SN7 tubes used. Buddy just wanted to try one with tone controls and you might even notice the loudness switch too. Kinda fun.  All in the signal path of course when switched on.  Nobody does that any more, so its really something different. Best to contact Holger and talk with him directly, he's been doing these for a while. Its an option and kinda unique. Are there better preamps, sure.