Tubeyist sounding Pre-amp?

no, the Sunfire sounds very nice

I have 2 channels and bi-amp the Maggies

Have you considered the Sunfire tube pre ?Should have synergy with your amp . Had one for a minute and moved on for the fact it was tubey . Have come to the conclusion tubes just aren't my thing no matter how many times i read get a tube pre and solid state amp . 

If you want a tubey sounding preamp, you probably don't want an ARC preamp.  The 6H30 tube that they use is definitely not classic tube or warm or euphonic sounding.  I know that someone could build a preamp using it that is those things, but ARC isn't doing that.

Bigkidz...surprised you mentioned counterpoint. Have had a 3.1 for 25 years( !). Purchased expensive potential replacements 3 times, one of which is in storage bc I keep going back to the CP. Shame this company went away so long ago, they would have done some great things. Had a CJ amp long ago, should have kept that too!

You owe it to yourself to listen to CJ's highly acclaimed PFR SS preamp.  It is tube sounding without the issues of tube maintenance (magic how they do it).  Stereophile rated class A all the way.  If you can find one, you can get it at a good used price.  Based on what you are looking for I think it is a guaranteed love affair for you.  

" Do you 5 channels? Does anyone need 5 channels?"

If you speakers allow for it, you can use 4 of the 5 channels and do a vertical biamp. 

Thx - I see there was one on here but it sod.

My guess is that there is no magic, but a certain circuit topology and some MOSFETs involved....

The schiit saga is a new product $350 preamp. With your $500
budget it leaves some room to tube roll, although I’m not sure a single tube will deliver anything close to a fat sound.

my other suggestion would be a bottle head kit. 

A remarkable thread so much truth spoken. Agree strongly that most modern  tube pre amps sound is, fast, clean clear,  not rolled off or syrupy- unless you want them to be !  Cut to the chase, I recommend the AE-3 by a division of Cary.  They are no longer in production so buy used.  I did for less than $500.  They use the ubiquitous 6SN7 try a few brands of the old production tubes. Fair warning tube rolling can be addictive.  
I have no personal experience with Mapletree but have heard only good things about him.  They use octal but can be varied from the typical  assortment of audio tubes.

Audio Electronic Supply AE-3

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