OK folks, what the best pre for under 10,000?

Gryphon Sonata Allegro is the finest preamp I have heard. new $15,000 (on audiogon $8,000-$9,000)

That sounds like a great speaker project,,,I love the ScanSpeak drivers,,,those paper treated wonders!!

I also thought digital volumes had some question marks too. But the Wadia's volume control is probably the best preamp you could even own, especially if your only using digital sources. Its output uses both balanced outputs along with single ended, and allows you to best match up the output voltage with the input voltage range on the amps being used. The idea behind the volume is to set the output voltage range so that your listening volume is in the top 3rd of the output volume so that you dont lose any defenition. This actually gives a pretty large volume window from soft to relatively loud. But even in the bottom 2/3's with the output voltage set improperly I have yet to hear someone legitimately say they hear information loss, its just no the case at all. As for Wadia sounding dry. Just buy one and send it to GNSC for the ultimate statement upgrade and you can have the most musical sounding preamp/cd transport period.

I'll nominate the Lamm L2 and Jadis JP80MC, if you're going with used prices, and the Lamm LL2, a comparative bargain at its list price. These units get the midrange right, better than most pres I've heard.

I ran the Wadia 861 direct for a couple of years. I recently tried the Herron linestage, and it improved the sound considerably. Although I have since changed to a different preamp, I find that a good quality amp is preferable over a direct amp to CD player configuration.