A tube pre-amp that is not talked about much is the Air-Tight. I have one and absolutely love it. It sounded really nice in the stock form and I had it modified and it is a giant killer. Used on AG you can find them for about 1800 dollars. Chow at Audiohorizons modded mine at a cost of a bit over a grand; this included taking the power supply out of the original case and isolating it in its own enclosure.
It is not howerver a tube syrupy pre-amp. This may depend on the tubes used and I am not much of a tube roller so that is out of my league....Using the tubes I have, whatever they are, it is smooth, spacious, with very impressive front to back soundstaging, and very pleasing tonal colors.
It is not howerver a tube syrupy pre-amp. This may depend on the tubes used and I am not much of a tube roller so that is out of my league....Using the tubes I have, whatever they are, it is smooth, spacious, with very impressive front to back soundstaging, and very pleasing tonal colors.