Tube Pre-amps for audition list

I'd second Buckingham on the Rogue Magnum 99 pre. I currently own it after having owned a number of solid state pre's and it is exceptional! Depth of soundstage, detail, musicality, a perfect match to balance the "characteristics" of a solid state amp. Other amps that you might want to look at, however, based upon your price point are the SAS Audio 10A ($1,430), which is an exceptional pre and a used Cary SL-50B(possibly less than $800.00). Happy hunting.

Kurt

Although slightly more than you want to spend, a used Klyne 7 series linestage may be an option. I had one in my system for a good while and found it a very neutral yet musical piece. Fabulous sounding and well made. I no longer have it, I've recently landed on the "no pre-amp is the best pre-amp" square, but it was one of the best pieces of gear I've owned, and fairly priced.

As Conrad-Johnson is the parent company of McCormack perhaps they will work well together.

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