CATSL1 best pre under 3K?

For the $$, checkout Audio Valve Eclipse. For a little more $$, an used Doshi Alaap MKII listed for $4500 just got sold.

Also try to demo CAT in your system before dismissing it. GL!

I've owned a CAT SL1 Renaissance w/ Phono for over 2 years now.
I heard my first SL1 in 1986.

The CAT is very neutral, uncolored and revealing.....it is not a "beguiling"
and "colored" pre.....

You might be able to do better than the CAT in certain regards, but I wouldn't
know what they are because I'm not going to be buying any others.......

Stewart0722, have you considered tube rolling into your CAT? I did this on mine and it went to an entirely different level. Rolling NOS tubes into both the line and phono stage was a huge improvement.

well the SL 1 got away, but still looking..

Not sure of the iteration, but there's an SL1 on gon now that has
met it's reserve at 1150.00

I have never tube rolled my pre. Ken Stevens hand picks my tubes
and I pay dearly for them. The last two sets have been dead quiet....
A warning.....this is not a pre you can leave on 24/7. It is basically
an all out assault hot rod and will eat tubes like no tomorrow.....