Help picking a tube preamp, please

Mattmiller -

How finely does the remote volume control step? I ask because I wondered the same for the ModWright 36.5 model and found this:
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?aamps&1297897182

Hello Agoners,

I really appreciate all the input, and reckon that we are all more lost without each other! There are some good suggestions to start; Cary SLP-05 gets frequently suggested, BAT, Herron and VTL. Curiously nobody mentioned Aesthetix. The 10Y arises curiousity... I couldn't find about costs. A suggestion had me thinking in a tangent...

Since my sole source is digital, then how about leaving out the preamp in favor of a DAC with a proper analog volume control? I don't need source selection, and can still consort with Tonywinsc about NOS tubes in my Quicksilver Silver power amps. My source is a PCM/DSD library from JRiver on a micro Zuma SoTM CAPs. Selling my current SS preamp and PCM DAC will net around $7500, funds that can be recycled into a PCM/DSD DAC with a proper volume control.

A potential candidate is the MSB Analog DAC, which does all this and potentially offers upgrade capacity. The volume control is 1db (78) stepped-attenuator. There's someone selling their Herron VTSP-3Ar02 here on A'gon because they did the same exact thing. Thoughts?

Ok, I'll keep Herron in mind. Tho I think my next step is to try some DAC with volume control. MSB Analog DAC? A Lampizator?

Hi folks,

I first considered the C-J... they are hybrid... I was told they had a particular coloration.

Still, since I have a single source, a digital library, I could consider a DAC with a good pre out. Is that an oxymoron? Bad move? I email one owner of the MSB Analog DAC who loved the sound but did have reliability problems.

I did order at no risk the new Vinnie Rossie LIO; has a tube stage and DAC with off-grid supply. Might it be a step down for me? It will be here around the first of the year, so I ought to get some other preamps in for comparison. Maybe the ET5, maybe Herron. Nobody mention Aesthetix...

Hello again A'goners!

Still interested in what y'all have to say about a preamp; I'm been searching around for options. Recall that my sole source is SoTM USB digital, and any preamp I get must have small-step remote volume control to fit my music library and lifestyle. I have a wonderfully sounding Hegel P30 preamp for sale that does not have small remote volume steps. I’m seeking a well-toned tube preamp that has articulate bass grip. I also now have a library of DSD files so might consider replacing my PCM-only DAC in the process. Here’s my current list of preamps and DAC+pre’s to audition:

Aesthestix Calypso Signature (perhaps Callisto?)
Vinnie Rossie LIO, arriving in January. Shootout planned then!
Audio Research REF5SE
Grace M905 DAC w/ volume
MSB Analog DAC w/ volume
Auralic Vega – DAC only

Here’s some others that haven’t made the short list but could:
Lampizator 4 w/ 64 step preamp. But apparently requires manual DSD/PCM switching.
Allnic L3000 $12k 41 steps, 14 or 20db gain
Purity Reference 1db steps, $12.5k; also single-ended Foundation model coming soon
Balanced Audio Technology VK-33SE? 0.5db steps
Herron VTSP-3A(r02) - funny but a seller of this pointed me to the MSB Analog DAC.
Zesto Leto – TAD speakers with these sounded best of my short tour of RMAF. Gaudy styling!
VTL TL5.5II?

Correct me if I’m wrong on any of these. So many well-reputed preamps without any volume remote:
First Sounds
Lamm LL2.1 Deluxe $6K
Vacuum State
Thomas Mayer’s 10Y Linestage
Shindo

Other remote-controlled preamps are out because they do not have small steps:
Audio Horizon TP2.3 Linestage (PCM only DAC?)
Cary
Atma-Sphere
Musica Bella
Music First Audio
Nagra Jaz
Prima Luna Dialogue Premium
Thoress
Audio Valve Eklipse; motorized Alps pot