Who makes the least expensive Tube Pre-Amp?

Gthirteen,
CJ and Rogue you've mentioned are fall onto the category of hobbyist-designed and built products. For its performance and reliability they should realy cost much less than being currently sold.

It's realy new for me to se CAT for less than a kilobuck but if that's the case than it's realy a great deal.

I always was excited the way Audio Research designs any product they sell and agree that their models deserve attention for all.

You can take my kilobuck statement as in-out range and in on more or less degree absolutely subjectively on inexpencive products something is missing what should be present.

Basically all I'm saying is not to fall onto belief that it will improve cause very often it will not if not carefully examined and/or tested.
For example, quite objectively, if I look onto Foreplay that is sold with kits or assembled by some small hobbyist company for quite cheap why should I believe that it will sound better than SS preamp manufactured by large manufacturer such as McIntosh, Audio Research or Plinius?

MY only advice to our "host" was to try a tubed preamp.
I think, for the same dollar, you get better sound from tubes than SS. Maybe solid state starts to sound better once you get beyong your Bryston, perhaps toward some upper end Levinson or Rowland. I'm not into "slam" or measurements like slew rate, THD, etc. I know what sounds like music, and it comes from warmly glowing bottles.

IF you think Rogue and CJ are hobbyist, well, that's your opinion. I'm not sure what you mean, exactly. Someone had to build them. IF "Hobbyist" means that the person building them was into Audio, then I'd agree. I know that Bill and Lew over at CJ started their business that way.

Can't speak for Mark and Marc @ Rogue, but their products have been well received the world over, they were both employed in the communications industry before starting Rogue, and thy both have an interest in audio.

Maybe you feel as though your system, and your opinions are the end all truth. More power to you. FWIW, I doubt that oyu feel this way, but by saying everythign below $1000 used is crap, you're certainly not perpetuating our hobby- if anythign, you're discouraging any "lurkers" that might feel to unacustomed to our lingo to join in the discussion, or worse, to go but an MP3 player. Whenever I can, I will help a newcomer by offering helpful advice. I didn't come out of the womb with golden ears.

Sonic Frontiers original SFL-1 is available used under $500. and is an excellent sounding hybrid tube pre-amp with a single tube-- and yes you can definitely get that lush tube sound with just a single tube. I used one for several years. Cheers. Craig

I think most used Conrad Johnson tubed units are a "bargain"
At least for my ears and wallet. I bought a used PV11 in 1998 and it made a definite improvement to my system. No current "upgrade fever" as I still really enjoy the music through my system. It has an excellent phono stage to boot if you like playing with vinyl.

In any event, have fun!

ASL, Audcom, the new tubes pre's from China are, sadly, very good, and very affordable.