You can accomplish what you want with a tube preamp. However, rather than focusing on the number of tubes a preamp has I would rate your priorities as follows:
1. Design, including how the tubes are used in the signal path and/or power supply.
2. The type of tubes being used. Each tube has certain characteristics that "color" the sound. Look for one that has the characteristics that match your sound preference.
3. Abililty to tube roll. This is not so important to some, but to me having this flexibility is a nice-to-have feature. You'll want to know what NOS options or alternative tube types will work with the preamp.
A lot of people are hot on the Modwright preamp right now. It might be worth a loook. Me, I'm biased, but I'd recommend you look into a Joule Electra LA-100 MkIII. Here is one listed on Audiogon:
http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?preatube&1138632048
1. Design, including how the tubes are used in the signal path and/or power supply.
2. The type of tubes being used. Each tube has certain characteristics that "color" the sound. Look for one that has the characteristics that match your sound preference.
3. Abililty to tube roll. This is not so important to some, but to me having this flexibility is a nice-to-have feature. You'll want to know what NOS options or alternative tube types will work with the preamp.
A lot of people are hot on the Modwright preamp right now. It might be worth a loook. Me, I'm biased, but I'd recommend you look into a Joule Electra LA-100 MkIII. Here is one listed on Audiogon:
http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?preatube&1138632048