Best Used Tube Based Preamp $2k Or Under?

OP, others

You can expand your buying power/choices to full featured vintage equipment without remote control:

In order to get remote control for any vintage equipment, simply add a Chase Remote Line Controller, RLC-1. That let’s me use my beloved McIntosh MX110z tube tuner/preamp.

You get very precise 1 db steps of remote: volume, balance, mute, treble, bass, and 1 switched power outlet.

Other remote volume devices exist, but this is the only one I know of with remote balance. Once you have it, you won’t want to ever live without remote balance again.

this old ad shows it well

https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649391586-chase-technologies-rlc1-remote-line-controller/images/1694269/

you MUST have a KP-1 Remote, no controls on the unit. One remote listed on hifishark now.

A unit without a remote for sale: if seller confirms it’s lights all blink when plugged in, that’s normal, thus no guarantee but likely a good unit.

You can get great sounding 6's for a lot less, people with lots of disposable money push things up ridiculously, simply try some from Brent Jesse

https://www.audiotubes.com/6sn7.htm

He's got a lot of Baldwin Organ Factory stock, $30. each, they could match some for you.

I had 6sl7 and 6sn7, Cayin OEM, (made by ____?), loved them. Blew one, had a used GE sounded like the Cayin, use it temp and get matched ones, right?

Tried some new Sylvania's, matched pair $160., hated em, Brent Jesse had me 1st break them in (simply leave on for 60 hrs, no signal needed), then let me return for full credit, and tried some General Electric (based on my used GE sounding so good), matched pair only $80. They sound great, as good as the Cayin Branded whatever they are.