Best Used Tube Based Preamp $2k Or Under?

This is my last correspondence with Kara (feb 2020).

"Thank you for your interest in my products. I am actually taking a sabbatical from audio. I have been building gear solo on my tech bench for 25 years and need a well deserved break. I would strongly recommend buying a used Ultraverve preamp. Its a spectacular bargain at used prices and all of them are really the same design--so they all sound good and they do not wear out in any real way. Used examples go for $1500 to $1800 depending."

I don’t know if the sabbatical ended but the website seems to have just remained static.

There is this comment on a USAM ad for a preamp (already sold) that indicates some work is still being done by Kara. Best to email.

"He had Kara Chafee at deHavilland upgrade the output caps to V-Cap TFTF ($450) and install a 47 point volume attenuator for fine volume control. The new attenuator was installed at deHavilland ($550 upgrade) in February, 2024."

@nightfall "I would love a CL38uC, but in checking, they go for $3500-4k!” in JP used cl38uc pre goes for less than $2k.. ebay offers start at $2.8k, incl. shipping (lowest I’ve seen n years): https://www.ebay.com/itm/156670112426.. buying used tube stuff you might need additional check / maintenance, no difference to many other older stuff sold in US / else..

The problem is that if you buy from Japan, you have to use a step up transformer which negatively impacts audio quality. The only step up transformers that minimally impact audio quality are $1k or more. 

there will no be SQ impact, just pick the right device! there are many transformers between your outlet and high-kV power station already installed! why do you need step-up to get 100V ac, typo? I use multiple low loss / leakage Nissyo TP-811 for <100W loads, when I need less than 100v ac plug.. for power amps transformers need to be large enough, that’s all!

I have a Schiit Freya + and a Supratek Chardonnay.  Both are very good preamps but the Supratek is my favorite of the two.  It does everything well, has variable gain on output so you can better match to your amp, balanced input and output, and remote..  Buy one. You’ll love it.  If you don’t, just sell it.  There’s a nice one on USAM right now for $1500.   
 

https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/650185743-supratek-chardonnay-preamplifier/