Opinions on preamps

I'm currently using an Audio Valve Eklipse. Audio Valve is a German company and doesn't do much promotion here in the States (imported by Victor Goldstein's Fanfare), but this preamp is fantastic -- some serious audiophiles (reviewers and manufacturers) are huge fans and owners. The transparency and dynamics are stupendous -- in fact, I sat in my listening room this evening with a leading speaker designer and we were wowed. There is a matching issue -- some amps don't work well with the Eklipse, with the result that you hear upper midrange glare -- but if you get a good match, you'll be amazed. Good luck.