For around $2K used you could probably find a Herron VTSP-1a, I have one and love it. It's reliable, low maintenance, fantastic sounding, and the quietest tubed preamp I've ever owned. You could do a lot worse, and you would have to spend a lot more to do much better. I will say that I've also heard rave reviews about the deHavilland UltraVerve, but I've never heard one. Good luck and happy listening!
Beginners Pre-amp
I'm in midst of changing things in my system and the next thing I want to try is a tubed pre-amp. I do plan to change my speakers to Paradigm S4 and would like to know which pre-amps would work. As for music it varies from Jazz(mostly) to live theater,dance,pop, etc...
My budget is at most 2500.00 new or used. I figured at that price point I can come away with something that I can live with for awhile and totally outclass the Pre-amp section of my receiver.
At that price point new I can come away with a BC21.1 as it allows me the options of the Shallco and a processor loop.
My questions are: What do the members here think of the BC?Will it work in my system. Is it a quite unit and and does it respond well to both tube rolling and PC upgrades.
Finally are there any others I should consider besides the VTL2.5/5.5. I know there's more but I drawing a blank.
Cheers