I can't believe nobody has yet pointed you at the VTA website.
Their SP14 preamp is the equal of any $5k preamp you'll find on Audiogon. You can build it as a kit for $1090, or you can get it fully assembled and tested for $1490. 90% of their buyers get the kit version. Excellent instructions and soldering for tube gear isn't all that hard to do. But even fully assembled, it's much less expensive than the my-poo-don't-stink brands you see around. It has a very Plain Jane look, so if you want it looking much nicer, Don Sachs takes their boards, builds them in a much more attractive form and sells them for about $2500. You have a lot of choices to get an exceptional tube preamp.
Lastly VTA offers many tweaks to these things in terms of special pots, caps and remote control if you want it. All very reasonably priced.
VTA also offers the Bob Latino line of power amp designs which are based upon the old Dynaco amps, but significantly upgraded. Their ST-120 amp is a Mac 275 killer. Again, all at very reasonable prices. For your $5k budget, you could build their top line PH16 phone preamp, the SP14 line stage preamp, and a pair of their 120 watt monoblock power amps.
It's good to have choices.
Their SP14 preamp is the equal of any $5k preamp you'll find on Audiogon. You can build it as a kit for $1090, or you can get it fully assembled and tested for $1490. 90% of their buyers get the kit version. Excellent instructions and soldering for tube gear isn't all that hard to do. But even fully assembled, it's much less expensive than the my-poo-don't-stink brands you see around. It has a very Plain Jane look, so if you want it looking much nicer, Don Sachs takes their boards, builds them in a much more attractive form and sells them for about $2500. You have a lot of choices to get an exceptional tube preamp.
Lastly VTA offers many tweaks to these things in terms of special pots, caps and remote control if you want it. All very reasonably priced.
VTA also offers the Bob Latino line of power amp designs which are based upon the old Dynaco amps, but significantly upgraded. Their ST-120 amp is a Mac 275 killer. Again, all at very reasonable prices. For your $5k budget, you could build their top line PH16 phone preamp, the SP14 line stage preamp, and a pair of their 120 watt monoblock power amps.
It's good to have choices.