Need preamp recommendation

The Don Sachs preamp is just a dressed up VTA SP14.  Much prettier and about $1000 more.

I don’t believe that’s true.  Last I looked, Don uses a slew of key premium parts that if used in the SP14 would make their prices much more comparable.  Making it sound like the Sachs pre just has a prettier cabinet is inaccurate and sells it way short IMO. 

Would help greatly if you’d share what aspects of sound reproduction are most important and attractive to you and what specifically you’d like to improve upon, otherwise you’re just going to get a wide range of personal favorites that may or may not match with your own sonic tastes and priorities.