Tube Pre-amps for audition list

I have a Sonic Frontiers Line 1 Special Edition. I love it. Its build is rock soild. Six 6dj8 tubes, 3-per-side to cancel out noise. Beautiful black and chrome finish. Remote control with everything on it including phase, display brightness and separate volume adjust for left and right channel to balance them out. Then it has a single main volume for over all volume control. Balanced and single ended inputs and outputs. And the Canadian dollar is week so we Americans can get them for less. Try upscaleaudio.com, get their phone number and call. Ask for Kevin Deal he'll take care of you for a lot less than the MSRP. Also go to the Sonic Frontiers website and look at this unit. It is so worth the money and built to last a lifetime.

If going SS why not try one of the McCormacks themselves? - RLD or ALD

If going with a McCormack product, the TLC-1 pre is the better choice although you'll also need the external phono stage. It will take some digging to find one with remote; their deluxe version was made with remote. I once had this full lineup: McC Phono stage, TLC-1 Dx -R, DNA-1 Deluxe. It was a good combo at a good price.

I totally disagree with the previous comments regarding Bryston BP-25. I've owned one for two years, and I'm just now selling it because I went to a BAT VK-30. The tubes are just slightly warmer with more air than the BP-25, which in itself is definitely on the warm side, far from "brutally honest." The Bryston is a superb product, very solidly constructed, and sounds quite musical. It does not possess the sweet openness of better tube equipment, but it is probably the equal of lesser tube gear, and far sweeter than most SS. It will never need to be fussed with. It is quiet as electronics can get. It mates very well with SS amps.

Thanks to all. A couple more to consider for the shortlist. I am curious as to no mention from anyone of Audio Research gear. (?)