The Don Sachs preamps are just gussied up VTA SP14 preamps. The straight VTA preamp is pretty plain Jane in appearance, but is very affordable. You can save a fair amount and get enormous satisfaction if you build it as a kit. They provide excellent support. They also offer it assembled and tested.
If you buy their top line SP14 line stage preamp and PH16 phono preamp, assembled and tested, it'll come in at around $2500. Build them as kits (and they're easy to do), it will run you around $1640 plus shipping.
In terms of quality, they'll stand up against any of the under $10,000 things you can find on Audiogon.
http://www.tubes4hifi.com/SP14.htm
http://www.tubes4hifi.com/PH16.htm
If you buy their top line SP14 line stage preamp and PH16 phono preamp, assembled and tested, it'll come in at around $2500. Build them as kits (and they're easy to do), it will run you around $1640 plus shipping.
In terms of quality, they'll stand up against any of the under $10,000 things you can find on Audiogon.
http://www.tubes4hifi.com/SP14.htm
http://www.tubes4hifi.com/PH16.htm