Help - Need Preamp under 5K for Class D amps


I’ve been looking at preamps for some time now and now that I’ve finally taken delivery of some audiophile quality speakers it time to find this device.
My current setup is as follows:

Line Arrays in the form of AV123 LS-6’s driven by a pair of Nuforce 9 SEV2’s. No pre in the signal path. Source is a Slim devices Transporter. All files EAC ripped FLAC lossless compression.
AC services:
VH-Audio power cords service the Nuforce’s in Flavor 4 version as well as the Power conditioner. Dedicated circuit utilizing a Furutech outlet and Furutech silver IEC connectors, Furutech gold plugs on the opposite end on power cords except on the Transporter end where I use a Oyaide 079.

Adona Rack and a considerable amount of room treatments.

So what I hear while sitting on the couch is a pretty resolving system with pinpoint imaging, a decent amount of bloom, dynamics galore and a generally pleasing sound except… I’m not quite where I want to be in terms of just being able to relax into the music. I’d like a bit more air, or bloom or warmth? Sorry I don’t have the right description but perhaps the fact that I have NO pre is the problem in general. Overall sound seems to be a bit clinical. Maybe that’s the word.

This is why I ask the help of my audiophile brothers and sisters here. Running my MAC RCA Palladiums’ doesn’t improve this much over the balanced cables I own which are DH-Labs DIYers. Having a home theatre system in tow that utilizes the Nuforce’s as well I find myself constantly moving interconnect cables which is annoying at best.

I’ve been looking at Dan’s Modwright 36.5 and auditioned one from a fellow Audiogon seller. I couldn’t get a handle on it’s attributes from that audition – too different a system not to mention that I didn’t like what I was hearing from his setup. Others pre’s I’ve been interested in are as follows:

Parasound Halo JC-2 – No tubes but does that really matter?
Aesthetix Calypso
Audio Horizons 2.1
Modwright 36.5
Other?

Thanks for your advice.
128x128desalvo55
In general tubes will get you more midrange warmth and bloom. But this is not always the case. I am sure the TRL will give you this while also improving a host of other things we all want in our sound systems.

If $2500 was was budget, then I would say the AH 2.1 and Lamm used are your best choices. But if you can spend $3500 I am not aware of a better pre for what you are trying to accomplish them the Dude by TRL.
Check out this German beauty...it's a steal for their build quality and suits your budget perfectly
Audio Valve Eklipse Tube Preamp
I believe the Dude uses 6SN7 tubes. TRL has always liked the RCA red base 5692s.
Cannot find info on the "dude" dudes. Is there a pic with some info?

That Audio Valve Eklipse looks very nice. Got kudo's from stereo times Mike Wright. Wonder if it has HT bypass. Funny that there's many pics of it's front panel but NONE of it's back panel that I could find.

Anyone here heard a lector?
No info on the Tube Research Labs website. Just call Paul. He hand makes these and stands behind them. Also, when you buy from Paul he will always update your unit as changes are made.

Not as pretty looking as the Eklipse, but its the sound that matters.

Bill