So damn hard deciding which tube preamp to buy!

Preamp would be used with ht and with a mac 255 multichannel amp. Only using 3 of 5 channels.  

Ok, Mom just approved $25k or so for a linestage tube preamp with a fully functional remote. I must spend within 24 hrs. Please help me.  

Noooo,  1 channel ctr and 2 mains. Means more watts avail for mains since its a 5 channel amp.  
Mac dont have a high end linestage, includes phonostage.  A flaw in their prod offerings

Bigkidz
omg, who does all this?

Vtl 7.5 series 3.  Mom likes this.  Seems pricey at $28k.  Has fully functional remote which vac sadly lacks.  Conrad johnson didnt have xlr, lumin x1 likes xlr..  too bad.

BAT preamp has about 16 tubes and uses 300 watts when in use.  It is a monster preamp.  Not a good fit within ht setup.

VAC, 2 tubes, very nice but remote not fully functional. Not good fit for ht use.

mom very unhappy, wants a new preamp. So hard to find a quality tube preamp for ht use.  Vtl 7.5 iii very nice at $28k, but very overpriced.

Why do some tube preamps have lots of tubes, arc has 8, bat has about 15 for rex, vac has only 2, vlt has 2.  Are they hybrid?

they seem to be located in gain stage.  Why here?

So how best do you match a preamp to an amp?  You hear u should match, but exactly how do u do this?

 Mommy gone away.  I need to make decision myself. Am a big boy.

Sad there is no spec compilation matching guide to aid preamp decisions.  So i will prepare my own grid listing specs for amps/preamps/speakers for my top picks.

maybe this will help me.  Make sense?

trying to make mom happy. 

Bal and single ended, prefer balanced.

preamps are 20% of sound impact, very important.

Jjss49. U seem unhappy.  So sad.  U r loved by someone somewhere.

Atmasphere,
thanks, didnt know this.