Maybe ask Bob Carver, but my guess is he will tell you to find a Sunfire Stereo Pre, which is just about impossible now.
I will jump on the Schiit Freya wagon. I am using the Freya S now to replace my longtime Adcom GFP-750, which was considered by many to be one of the most transparent preamps ever made. In comparison to the Adcom, the Freya in active mode has far better imaging, with just a hint of glare in the upper midrange, likely because it only had a few hours on it (a week later it is gone). I hear no grain or other shortcomings in the Freya. If you like tubes try the Freya +. The Freyas are also fully balanced.
For reference I am using a Schiit Gungir MB DAC, Sunfire Stereo Amp (rebuilt by Bill Flanery last year) and Magnepan 3.5s (rebuilt by Magnepan last year). I have no urge to change my amp, but if I did, it would be for the Carver tubes.
I will jump on the Schiit Freya wagon. I am using the Freya S now to replace my longtime Adcom GFP-750, which was considered by many to be one of the most transparent preamps ever made. In comparison to the Adcom, the Freya in active mode has far better imaging, with just a hint of glare in the upper midrange, likely because it only had a few hours on it (a week later it is gone). I hear no grain or other shortcomings in the Freya. If you like tubes try the Freya +. The Freyas are also fully balanced.
For reference I am using a Schiit Gungir MB DAC, Sunfire Stereo Amp (rebuilt by Bill Flanery last year) and Magnepan 3.5s (rebuilt by Magnepan last year). I have no urge to change my amp, but if I did, it would be for the Carver tubes.