Sonic Frontiers preamps are a good value ...great parts & build quality.......would probably tame your harshness a bit, and hey, they have sounded great in my rig, I went from a Line 3 to a 3SE. I used to have a levinson amp, but now have BAT 150SE's. A Line 2SE or Line 3, or even a Line 3SE all are in your budget......and the disc shaped remote is very nice! They are often seen on Agon.... There ARE warmer tube preamps than the SF though.
tube preamps
Looking for the following tube preamp:
1-take off top end brightness of Krell SS processor & Pass Labs amp
2- well known for midrange sweetness
2-remote controlled
3-slim profile, nothing as large as, say, Audio Research
4-budget/2-4K
Footnote - Yes, I realize the best preamp is no preamp, but this is what I'm looking for!
1-take off top end brightness of Krell SS processor & Pass Labs amp
2- well known for midrange sweetness
2-remote controlled
3-slim profile, nothing as large as, say, Audio Research
4-budget/2-4K
Footnote - Yes, I realize the best preamp is no preamp, but this is what I'm looking for!