Tube Pre-amp Suggestions.

I guess it depends on your objectives Solid state or Tube based pre. I suppose your BHK offers a little insight into tube pre amps. I use a EamAR Yoshino 912 which is fully balanced All transformer coupled and has an absolute pearl of a phono stage.You could also consider the EAR 868L or PL if you want an excellent configurable MC  capable phono stage.

To all the respondents recommending and/or using 6SN7 based vacuum tube preamplifiers:  try a set of Sylvania triangle plate 6SN7’s made in the late 1940’s and early 50’s. Something special, and in my experience, low microphonics (not always a given in octal base small signal tubes).

My recommendation would be the Luxman CL-38uC if you’re seeking a full featured tube preamplifier with bulletproof built quality and stunning retro looks.  Transformer enabled balanced in’s and outs, a great phono stage with SUT coupled MC inputs, mono switch, variable turnover tone controls that can be bypassed, and a basic remote.  I know it’s out of your budget, but considering what it includes, the Luxman CL-38uC is a great value sez Art Dudley in his Stereophile review.

A stand alone DAC that also performs the function of a preamp is very unlikely to come even remotely close to the performance of a stand alone preamp. Companies have been founded on building great preamps and the best today are still built on two box designs and cost a fortune. So, an add on function to a DAC is unlikely to perform anywhere near the level of a purpose built preamp. Some very expensive DACs may have serious preamps in them. 

Class D... for instance ADG sound great through for instance an Audio Research DAC. I had a chance to listen to one in my system. Amp technology should have no impact on your preamp... unless it has so very unusual output. I've been mixing and matching for decades and never had an issues... the better the preamp the better to output sound. 

I have a Prima Luna Evo 400 that feeds my  Brysto 4b3 SS amp that I feel really made a big difference in SQ over the SS Parasound pre I had been using. It’s my first tube preamp so I can’t see how necessarily compared to anything else, I got my system to the point where I don’t really have any desire to make any changes and Just want to listen to it as it made all sorts of music more enjoyable. The 400 is over what you want and o spend, but you might want to listen to or consider the 300 or even the 200 which are more reasonably priced.

schiit fot the win.  It goes digital too.  It was my very first. Never forget your first.

@porchlight1 

When you say Sylvania "triangle Plates" I beleive you are referring to the angled T plates in the GTB series? They started in 1954. Not as good as the previous GT series, but still great quality Sylvania tubes.

Then why did you ask the question and then ambush people over their responses?

Bit trolley if you ask me.

@foggyus91 OK sorry, just not a fan.

Quoting the OP:

“it seems the Rogues don’t have balanced inputs, but the Schiits do.”

my Rogue RP-7 has two sets each of balanced outputs AND balanced inputs.  On their website, if you click on the Preamplifiers picture and then on the. RP-7, there is a picture of the back that you can enlarge, showing these connections.  The accompanying text states that it is a balanced preamplifier.  I am using both sets of balanced outputs and one set of the balanced inputs, from my Schiit Gungnir 2 DAC.

@mike4597 correctamundo, the PR-7 does!

@mike4597 just missed out a RP-7 demo at Audio Advisor for $3,499

It was there yesterday, gone today...UGH!

Dodd audio preamp, Coincident Statement preamp

To the poster asking about the dehavilland. I have an ultraverve iii. Kara made it for around $3-4k a few years ago at my email request. Said she was still making a few until her parts ran out. Absolutely silent and velvety smooth into my Pass xa.25 and klipsch la scalas. No hiss through the horns. 

I have found that running my dac through a tube preamp sounds good, but I often need to listen briefly (30 minutes or less). The dac has preamp capability. Would it make sense to focus on a pre that can simply pass the dac signal through when I don’t have time to properly warm the tubes? Several of the preamps I looked at have pass thru, but they all use the tubes even for that. (My setup happens to be all  balanced.)

I have a sonnet Pasithea DAC with built in analog preamp that I prefer to run without either of the 2 preamps I had tried.

first was a Don Sachs model 2. While I really liked this preamp for it big spatial and full sound, I felt like I lost something in the micro details of the music.

second was a Halo Serene, which I.bought based on reviews saying that it was transparent and would not change the sound character. I didn’t find this accurate and I never did take to it.

BTW - The reason behind adding the preamp was for me to incorporate a turntable into the system. Otherwise I would have stayed without it.

However, With my prior DAC, the Rockna Wavelight, I will say that adding the Don sachs Pre was a substantially positive move. Much better with DS than without.

If I had to summarize this all, I’d say it very much depends on your particular gear and its all just a best guess until you try it and hear it for yourself.

Good luck

@kds Since you seem to be pretty open to possibilities, what about an Audio Research REF 75 stereo amp plus their REF 3 preamp?  A guy in CAN has both here for sale.  They are already at reasonable prices and he is accepting offers.  Both of these items are classics and will always have resale value.  Depending on where you negotiated the sale, you could very likely always get your money back if they weren’t for you.  If you aren’t familiar with Audio Research tube power, those 75 wpc would essentially have the same output as your current CODA 400wpc and also most likely be more musical.  I compared my REF 75 to a McIntosh 450wpc amp and they had the exact same output with the REF75 being more musical.  I tried a CODA amp one time compared to my REF 75 in my system and it did provide more control in the bass but overall I found it a bit on the bright side for my taste.  It was an older model and less power than yours so definitely not making a judgement of CODA, just ARC tube power v/s solid state.  The REF 3 pre pairs perfectly.  If you don’t like the black handles, I didn’t when I owned this exact pairing, you can easily remove them and paint to match.  It was a basic Krylon color that matches exactly.  You are in a fun spot with growing your system as amps and preamps are easy purchases and sales so have fun and good luck!

All good stuff, thank you!

Check out the tube preamp offerings from Audio by Van Alstine and invest the remainder of the money you’ll save.

Consider a used Allnic L-3000.  Excellent value for the price. Robust build and quality.

@biwire Van Alstine looks cool, but I would like to stick with a balanced set-up. The Allnic mentioned here is balanced but overbalanced for my checkbook at present!

I use Supratek preamp with my Coda S5.5.

It is a most amazing match! A match made in heaven as they say :)

@glenmschneider I took my preamp out of my system. The Pasithea preamp works marvelous. 

@kds space tech lab has many balanced preamps, some of his offerings use power tubes. You can call or email space tech and he will answer any questions you might have.

First, I'd say "Tubes". Having a tube front to your solid-state amp is an oft mentioned general, good idea here on audiogon....and I agree..along with great hybrid designs of Modright, Unison, Croft,  AMR, yup, hybrid. Introduce some tubes, and, I would add, 6SN7's (or 6SL7's) from your boutique builder of your choice, for his point to point designs - very important for "aire". I prefer a minimalist. design. Have fun.

Ok, made in China. But this preamp brought magic alive in my system. I've had it for over 2 years now with narry a glitch. Miles above any preamp in the same category.

http://www.audio-gd.com/HE/V1HE/V1HEEN.htm

@invalid 

 space tech lab has many balanced preamps, some of his offerings use power tubes.

These look interesting, thanks. There is not a lot of information about them anywhere, can you elaborate at all?