unity gain active tube preamp?

Please let me know if there are other options.

http://www.schiit.com/products/saga
http://www.schiit.com/products/freya

A simple cathode follower tube preamp would be an easy DIY project.  Many years ago I did that using a 6SN7 as the cathode follower.  The audio circuit was very simple: volume control to 6SN7 to output coupling capacitor.  You can make the power supply as simple or as elaborate as you want.

Thanks. Btw, my setup is fully balanced.

The musica Bella looks nice but has 15.5 D'bronx gain. I am looking for zero gain. Thanks.

Audio Research has been using it for years. I have had it an LS26 and now my REF5, and find theirs to be the easiest to switch to. I looked at other brands and they have it, but complicate the switching from 2 channel to unity gain. Audio Research just lets you press "proc" on the remote un-mute and your in. It automatically mutes when you press it. As a longtime McIntosh owner, their instructions, to my understanding, call for turning the unit off and on in processor mode. I think Cary is similar.
if looking used, and LS26 or Ref3 have it, I am not sure about prior units.

Theo, aren't the zero gain outputs on the AR ("record outputs") for tape only?

A used Musical Fidelity X-10v3 tube output buffer. My friend uses one and it works wonderfully for digital playback.

Give Roger Modjeski at Music Reference a call. He builds one-off pre-amps, and is a proponent of zero-gain or passive designs of such.

A used Musical Fidelity X-10v3 tube output buffer.

shredder

"If you want that tube warmth"
Yes this is good but you need to also get a passive VC (volume control) before it. More $$$

Musical Fidelity have the same circuit in their Xcan-V3, but with normal size tubes, not the mini 6112 that are in the X10-V3.

But you get with the Xcan-V3, a passive volume control built in, and a headphone jack as well.
So this Xcan-V3 has all you need, but both units do have just a touch of gain (1 or 2db) above unity.

Cheers George

Why not have a custom SET- DHT  preamp made for you ? I have a SET with only 
1- stage is by far the purist active stage you can get .100% Transformer coupled 
Lundahl, orMonolithe , Tango,or whatever your budget could afford . Myself 5 transformers ,3 choke filter supplies ,all 4- pole output caps and bypassed with MundorfSilver oils the latest Shunt,relay remote from Khozmo. No coupling capacitors at all in the signal path.
Amorphous core Audio output transformers , Silver  if your budget can go the extra $2k Mile. Something to ponder though the Russian 4P1L tube is considered by many one of the most linear with lowest plate resistance but still have plenty of gain . Did you know the Vast majority of preamplifier have 2 ,or more stages 
indirect triodes .mean double the circuitry,and wiringplus regulators . You would have to spend well over $10-15k what this DHT can accomplish in purity for $6k.
No commercial markup .myself being in the Audio business before know the production markup and only 25% of the cost at most goes into the product ,including the case. Custom over 70%  goes into the build and the parts quality 
is  Much higher - premium quality.Nothing was spared in the build process. Longevity,as well as lower distortion is the 
final result of precision hand built engineering . It took me over 30 years to except 
this fact but true .Amplifiers are another animal all together they are Loudspeaker dependent . 

Custom is an interesting idea. I will look into Music reference. Any others your recommend? 

After a quick search, Tube Audio Lab looks interesting.

Further about the  Schiit Freya that was already mentioned:  It is balanced.  Has pure passive and JFET buffered unity gain output options.  Also has 6SN7 tube output with significant gain (13 db?) as a third output option.  Has finely adjustable volume control.   The price is very reasonable.

Someone from audiocircle asked NickT at Schiit, the Freya tube output gain is 10 dB single-ended and 20 dB balanced.
Maybe the tube section can be modified to unity gain?

@shredder 

Thanks. Btw, my setup is fully balanced.

We've done buffer-style versions of our preamps on occasion per customer requests. Our preamps were the first balanced preamps made.

Schiit Freya

+1 Three in one with balanced 

Cheers George