Best Used Tube Based Preamp $2k Or Under?

@nightfall 

Audio Research LS17SE

There are some out there now and they have great resale potential so if you can get one at $2k, you could always sell if you changed your mind

@nightfall 

The Supratek preamps do have remote control volume and there is a US tech for repairs or upgrades.  I bought mine used on USAM and have had no issues with it.  There are also plenty of owners on A’gon for questions.  It’s a remarkable value for the money.  

For what it’s worth, I had an Audio Research SP-16 and a brand new Schiit Freya + for about 3 months. I did some critical listening and some tube rolling with both. I ended up selling the Audio Research. The 6sn7 tubes were just better to my ears. And when tube rolling, the 6sn7’s made a huge difference in sound. I ended up with 2 NOS GE’s in the buffer stage and NOS Ken rads in the gain stage. A sweet Lucious tube sound. Plus it had XLR’s out for my Krell amp. The Audio Research sounded decent but it was single ended, and new production tubes versus NOS tubes didn’t really make a major difference in sound.

Just so you know, I am certainly paying attention to those of you recommending VTL preamps. I’m concerned about the age of the 2.5’s, though. I long ago heard a 5.5 in a system I knew and was extremely impressed. Those seem to be going for about $3k.

Currently there is a steal available on a 6.5, with superb NOS tubes, for only $2900.00. I might go on a three month Ramen noodle only diet, which I would need to do, to afford that, and grab that preamp, but he wants local pickup in San Diego. Aaaaargh!!!

I just realized that I had forgotten  the VTL's are fully balanced. Both of my amplifiers are single ended only, so another option by the wayside. Oh well, the search continues.