Best tube pre-amp below US $ 10.000,00 ?

Supratek. Hand built, point to point, and gorgeous. The phono stage in my Supratek absolutely murders my previous phono stage, Aesthetix Rhea, no contest. Downside is you'll wait at least 3 and up to 6 months. That being said, I'm glad I waited.

Supratek! My preamp merry go round stops ever since I invested in one. And mine is not even the top of the line.
My WPP100C, to use Wc65mustangs choice of words, was murdered and slaughtered by the phono section of the Chenin as well.

Wc65mustang: I´ve heard a lot of good things about the Supratek Cortese. Do you think it equals the Converget SL-1 Ultimate´s performance or the Hovland HP-100 ?

Frankpiet, there are big differences between the CAT SL1 Ultimate and the Hovland...on your fine speakers you would hear them immediately.

Since your amp has balanced inputs you might also consider a preamp fully balanced throughout, and there are very good choices within your budget.

Brian

Franpiet
I dunno. The only way to determine that is to audition each of them in your system. Hearing them side by side by side at a dealer would be helpful provided the amplification and speakers were similiar (ideally identical) to your own. However the chance that any retailer has both Hovland and CAT is small although you may find one in larger metropolitan areas. Supratek does not do retail so a 3 way comparison is quite unlikely.
Performance vs. $$$ I think Supratek is untouchable as you are saving 40%-50% buying owner direct. All of course IMO.
FYI, I have the Grange not the Cortese.