CATSL1 best pre under 3K?

Dvdgreco, Charles1dad brings up a good point. Subjectivity is the rule and there will be a diverse range of responses. His advice to always audition if possible is spot on. I can tell you from my perspective and likes, the TRL and the Coincident Line stage wouldn't be my favorite at all. Frankly, I wouldn't give them house room, so there's one divergent response, LOL. Compared to the CAT, they are far less dynamic and resolving...BUT this is all IMHO.
Remember, that the ancillary gear will also have an effect on what one hears- along with ones pre-conceptions. Charles1dad clearly likes a certain sound, I like another. It's all good.

Ironically,
What I found more appealing with the 3 preamps I listed earlier are superior dynamics, tonality/harmonic development and they sound more natural and less mechanical. Again you'll have to listen and judge by "your" standards.

Here is the other irony. Depending on the ancillary gear...source,amps, speakers and the room; I believe that almost all gear can be made to sound different than in a synergistic set-up. In my experience, and with an analog front end, the CAT sounded more as I described than the TRL or the Coincident. At the time, was this due to the phono preamp stage that was used with the other two preamps, was it the amp/preamp pairing, the speakers, the room, the cabling, the source or?? Could this have been the circumstance when Charles1dad heard the CAT and then the other two preamps, great synergy with the two he likes- and less so with the CAT....I believe that may well be the case.

Daveyf,
Yes I agree that there are too many variables that influence what we hear. That's why no component can be declared the "best". In the end just choose what sounds better to you for your particular circumstances. The great point is we only have to satisfy ourselves.
Charles,

The CAT SL1 is an awesome preamp and represents great value especially when you factor in the outstanding onboard phono section.