backert vs sachs preamp

@majorc,Stop reading @atmasphere comments. I too had a passive (TCV) and he (along with my dealer and @almarg) convinced me go to an active and that too a tube unit!
Just kidding, but I love the Backert Labs. I always felt that actives are not as transparent as TVCs. But the Backet seems to have the same transparency with the added (excellent) dynamic slam.I have no experience with Don Sachs. Why don't you call up Don Sachs and see if they can lend you a unit for in-home demo?

As as much as I have respect for Backert Labs pres, I think Don Sachs will let u try his pre for 30 days, and I doubt you give it back. 

Joseph Chow of Audio Horizons also has a capacitor-less preamp called The VRX.

This preamp uses coupling transformers instead.

@majorc  The Quicksilver is easy to drive- you'll be fine with either preamp!

thanks to all - I'll try to audition both - one thing I forgot to mention is I have only one source (a computer) - so I don't need multiple inputs - not sure if that would change anyone's recommendation -

I have no experience with Backert Labs gear so I have no views about them, but for me I have never heard a passive pre that I preferred over and active pre. 

I got the third or forth preamp that Don made and just a couple of months ago sent it back for what are likely the last interactions of enhancements he has employed in the preamp.  It is by far the finest pre that I have heard in my system in 45 or so years.  It is dead quiet in operation and has an immense soundstage owing to the design genius of 6SN7 octal tubes.  They inner detail of the instruments in uncannily realistic.  

I have had a relationship with Don for nearly a dozen years, going back to the upgrades he did on my HK Citation I, II, and V units.  His preamp is vastly better than the fully modded C-I and fair simpler in design.  His KT-88 amp is just as good and might give your QS amps a run for their money (I am going to do a comparison of the two very soon.)

I heartily recommend Don's preamp.  Every at 3X the its cost, I think it would a hard to find a preamp more musical.  I had to go through 15 or 20 preamps over the years before I discovered Don's preamp and now my search is over.  

Don Sachs preamp is a giant killer.  Their cost relative to their performance is tremendous.  Backer has modded equipment for me and he does good work.  Sachs preamp is for sure cheaper with out of this world performance.  

I’m in love with my Quicksilver tube preamp. With that you’d have synergy.

I suggest you also look into the Supratek preamps.