Also consider the Boulder 1000 series preamps. This is the first Boulder product I owned before replacing it with the 2010 preamp. I find the Boulder 1000 series to offer much of the quality of 2000 series in the areas of neutrality, musicality, and timbral accuracy. Where they are different is in dynamics and soundstage depth. The 2000 series offers very natural changes in dynamics - or said another way - the music ebbs and flows as live music does. The soundstage in the 2000 series also has greater depth and layering, and even more detail without loss of musicality. But the 1000 series offers fantastic sound in these areas too, bettering most competitors. The improvements offered by the 2000 series are not proportionate to the increase in price over the 1000 series, at least in my opinion. However, you posed the question about the best preamp, regardless of price...
