Looking for Tube Pre Amp Advice

I came to prefer the 6SN7 tube sound better than the others. My vote for that tube as the basis of the design.

Also, I continue to enjoy switching from tube preamp to solid state, just so I can zero back in on my QS amps' character and the effects of tube changes. A tube preamp is luscious, but I like eliminating the variability of the preamp, sometimes, and know that I can pin changes in the tube amps. I also try swapping different solid state amps in and out, so the solid state preamp is helpful in that regard, too.

In the price range of the Evo 400 my first choice would be the Backert Labs Rhumba 1.4 for $900 less than the Evo 400. It has HT bypass also.  Take the time and call Andy at Backert Labs.  Good guy to talk to and a straight shooter. 

The Linear Tube Audio unit gets great reviews is the same price but less XLR inputs, no XLR outputs and not HT bypass. 

Like hilde45 I also prefer preamps with 6SN7 tubes but those options are getting more limited with Supratek shutting down production for health reason. Leaves you this LTA, Aric and the Spatial Raven for now and none of them have HT bypass.

Point of correction the LTA does have HT bypass.

The preamp is the heart of your system.   Buy the best one you can,  lots of otherwise decent systems out there that aren't delivering their full potential by using a mediocre preamp. 

Most important component in the chain in my experience.   I've always stretched my budget on preamps in my 45 years in this hobby and it always paid off.  

@oddiofyl 

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