Single input tube preamp

Thanks for the responses. My budget is up to $2500. In my search I came across the Quicksilver Line Stage preamp. It's in my budget but another company I'm not familiar with. Anyone have experience with this piece? Or a similar unit from other companies. Final question: How would something like this compare to a used ARC LS25 or similar?  

The LTA products look perfect. My question now is whether to go with the new Velo or save for the full preamplifier. 

@soix 

Very interesting. I'm currently using a Schiit Valhalla 2, another OTL headphone amp/preamp in a similar setup. It gets input from my Bitfrost 2/64 and I run it wide open into a Schiit Kara preamp in passive mode. So, there's no attenuation to the tubes and the only volume control in the circuit is the Kara RL volume control. Sounds pretty nice for the cost and is what prompted me to look for something similar.

This look like the perfect upgrade but a new MZ2 is above my budget. Maybe used ones come along. I'll keep an eye out. 

@soix

I was going to wait for the new LTA Velo but I found a pre owned MZ2 at a fair price. Hooked it up today and WOW. What a beautiful sound. Thanks for the input.

Yes, got the LPS. Makes me wonder why every high end manufacturer doesn’t do that. Eliminates all the isolation and heat issues.
I’m not driving speakers, I’m driving a Parasound A23+. At the moment I’m going through my passive preamp with remote volume control. I’ll connect it directly later on and see if the passive is hurting anything. Keep you posted. 

@soix 

A little follow up. I upgraded the original RCA 12SN7s with some NOS JAN Sylvania VT-231/6SN7s from the great folks at LTA. They're sounding better every day. 

After getting a remote, I went directly from MZ2 to A23+. To have enough play on the LTA volume control, I had to use the volume pots on the amp. So I essentially swapped the volume control on Kara for another. After a couple of weeks, I've switched back to running the MZ2 through the Kara with better results. I think the RL volume on the Kara is cleaner than the volume pots on the A23.

So the amp runs with no attenuation, the Kara provides resistor based attenuation, and the MZ2 volume control is just right. I can always run the Kara wide open and only have the MZ2 volume control in the chain but I think the gain structure is better with some attenuation. I can also put the Valhalla 2, or a vintage pre without remote, into another input for another flavor. And I have the SS functionality on the Kara for non critical listening. I like it.