It appears you are leaning towards a tube preamp.
Depending on your needs, I would recommend either a used ARC Ref. 2, Mk. II, (they run around $4K, or so), or if you have the cash, a used Ref. 3, although these are very tough to find used (used around $8K) and new $10K.
My friend uses the Ref 2, with his Lamm M2.2s, and it sounds great. Both of these preamps have a very flexible remote control (i.e. it controls everything, volume, sources, balance, etc..). The only downside is that these are line stages only, no phono boards available. (Although given the money involved, spending a few grand more on a phono stage won't break the bank!) My friend tried out the Ref. 3 vs. his Ref. 2, (in his system), and he preferred the Ref. 3. He says when he gets the money, that he'll definitely upgrade to the Ref. 3, it was that good.
If you would consider a solid state preamp, I use the Ayre K-1xe (with the phono stage!), with my Lamm M2.1s, and it sounds as good, at least to my ears, as the ARC Ref. 2. However, the remote is very basic, and only controls volume. (In fact it has no balance control at all, due to the way that the volume control is constructed. Personally, I don't miss it, but some people do like to play around with the balance controls.)
PS As you can tell, a remote is a must for me.
Yeah, I'm a lazy SOB! :-)
If a remote is not a must for you, the Lamm L2 is very good too, albeit a little dark sounding. (I'm not trying to put it down, just relaying what we thought of it compared to the Ref. 2. It is still a top notch preamp.) However with no remote, and dual volume controls, and only 3 SE inputs, it would never make my short list.
Good luck in your search!
