Upgrade Mcintosh C39 Preamp to tube suggestions?

I 2nd Audio Classics. I've bought lots of my McIntosh gear from there.

Take the Rogue equipment home and try it.You might be pleasantly suprised.

If you want to break away from McIntosh and want to spend 4000 or less. I should preface this with I ahd a C39 for years and have since gone through MX130,132,134 and now a MX135. I wanted to add a tube pre amp to my system and maintain a 5.1 surround and have a 2 channels system as well. So I decided to add a pre amp with unity gain(ht pass thru) between my MX135 and my MC402 for the fronts.
I looked at the C2300 as it was the same price as the Audio Research LS26 new. I went with the LS26 and have been very happy and am actually looking at upgrading it to a REF3. SO to answer your question add the Audio Research LS26 to your lis of options. And by going with the Unity gain feature if you are using the C39 as a six channel pre amp, you can keep it in your system and add the LS26 between it and your amp. Unless you have the 2 channel version of the C39 (McIntosh made 2 one 2 and one 6 channel) then sell the C39. If you can wait a few weeks I will be listing my LS26 which is less than a year old.

Talk to Audio Classics in Binghamton NY. They will back your purchase and give you a fair trade for your MC39