Who makes great active preamps ? Tube or solid state or hybrid.

I prefer tube preamps, and also believe in synergy with the related amp.  I have had excellent experience with matched Audio Research and now have a McIntosh tube pre as well as mono block amps.

I like to say that XYZ component is always compatible with itself.  My first matched equipment was Sansui 50 years ago.  Integrated amp, speakers and tuner.  Nice aound cor the rime and the budget.

First Sound, Joule Electra (out of business so only available used obviously). 

Got to add, dollar for $. Klaus’ Candela is far better than it ought to be at 1600.00.  I’ve not heard anything at that price point that can compete.  
Tube access notwithstanding. 

@richdirector 
>> "Valve input MOSFET out"

All tube in signal path. The MOSFETS are constany current sources for the line stage/buffer.

Halgorythme made by a French music lover:
http://www.halgorythme.com/preamplificateur_ligne_cv1816sn7.html
http://www.halgorythme.com/index.html

Obviously, some brands are mentioned more frequently because that company produces a lot of units.  That having been said, of the brands I've owned, Audio Research is one the best I personally have heard.  When the ARC Reference 3 line-stage entered my system, my (audio) world changed.  All the music I thought I knew (and I was already using a more affordable ARC line stage), had to be listened to again.  In all the years it's been in my system, I've never had the urge to "upgrade."  The complete satisfaction continues.......

Thanks bdp24, you know a lot about real music!!!!

You can search but when it's over you will find bliss with the N1 from Sutherland Engineering.  Full fledged with phono as well. Underrated and rarely reviewed.  A benchmark in my opinion and many others.  You'll be hard pressed to stop smiling!

The Schiit Freya...A remote, a 128 step relay switched very accurate attenuator, three choices of remote selectable passive, FET, or tube output through 4 6SN7GTBs, fully balanced operation, five remote selectable inputs including two balanced and three single ended, three outputs including one balanced and two single ended, and excellent low noise floor sound that I enjoy immensely. It's USA built and costs around 700 bucks, supported by geniuses who may or may not be gentlemen, but are more like curmudgeonly rebellious marketplace disturbers.

love the Schiit-Stirers !!!

I love my McIntosh C500

Oh man, gonna get a Schiit saga next month..Can't wait to dump my Onkyo receiver that I am using exclusively a a pre-amp (although a great home theater receiver). I am not completely sure this receiver is doing an ADA conversion with my turn table, so Schiit is gonna remedy this for me.

If the Saga sounds this good, I can’t imagine what the Freya sounds like.  I really can’t say how the Schiit Audio pre’s compare with the high end, but I can say that the Saga easily bests my mid-fi Parasound P-5, and costs 1/3 the price.

More top end detail, lower noise floor and a soundstage that is immersive.  I do have excellent speakers, Totem Hawks, and solid core based cabling from Audioquest, but I’ve simply never had it this good.

Given my passion in tube based Preamps, I've observed we get consistently good reports by respected contributors here that Ear, Shindo, Allnic, Backert, Vac, VTL, Aethetix, Hovland, and ARC are terrific choices. 

Personally I’ve got a soft spot for 6SN7 based Preamps because the relative abundance of good tubes with a wide sonic palate that offer great tube rolling possibility for system tuning -  names like like deHavilland, Atmo-Sphere, Wyeteck, Supratek, MFA Lumi, ASL Flora, Sachs and TRL Dude come to mind. I find there is a little more meat on the bones on these octal tubes. Tung Sol, RCA, and Sylvania are solid choices.

By reputation they should be great music makers and can be had used for <10k all the way down to 1.5k. As usually it about synergy and the listeners own listening priorities.

(I am in humanely affordable range only.... in no specific order)

HOT: Shindo, Lamm (except LL2), Jadis (except the entry level ones), Viva Audio, Wavac (except MD-811), Allnic (L-3000 and above), VAC (Statement), Boulder, Sonic Frontiers (Line 3 SE only), top model McIntosh (tube ones), Burmester (except the Rondo / Concerto line)

NOT: BAT (Solid State ones), VAC (mid-level or below), VTL, Manley, Mark Levinson, ModWright, Counterpoint (including the NP), any entry to mid level CJ and ARC (regardless of tube or SS), Audio Note (entry to mid level)

Aires-Cerat Imperia LE. Destroys Audio Note and Kondo and Koda(any model).

I have had an Ayon (bottom of the range) and was very good, but not quite great.  I currently have Emm Labs Pre2 and Daniel Hertz M6 and both are fabulous.

Audible Illusions makes outstanding tubed preamps. I'm waiting on an L3B as we speak.
Good luck with your search.

Thrax Audio Dionysis Pre. Sublime but big $$$.

And +1 Vincent for the money. SA-T8 Tube (as long as you roll in better tubes) & SA-94 Solid State.

MP-1 or MP-3  from Atma-Sphere you will never regret the purchase. It can stand hand in hand against those super heavily marketed companies out there.

The MP-1 is by far to me one of the very best, being in this hobby for 25 years heard and owned so many.

Have now the Daniël Hertz M6L, and the VAC phi 300.1 : just great !!!!

Zesto , they are phono stage specialists but their Leto Preamp is phenominal....  I mean perfect tonal balance, true to life  ...   everything you may read about them is true, incredible sounding preamp

If I were going for an active preamp, I would look into the Thomas Mayer 10Y.