Preamp recommendations for under $600.00

The TSGG is built with circuit boards and so is somewhat easier to assemble, IMHO. It also uses the more common tube, the 12AU7, which ofers more opportunities for tube rolling. For a newbie, working slowly and deliberately, I would think four to six hours for either kit would be about right. But that is just a guess.

There are several excellent online tutorials for how to solder. Lots of us do it. It does involve a degree of manual dexterity, but most problems that you might create are pretty fixable, and you will have the pride in ownership of having made something.

Both manufacturers have excellent forums to help if you get off of the track and you can always register and ask the questions directly of the manufacturers and end users there.

Get an Acurus L10 or R11. These are known as good quality pres that have good mil spec components and can be upgraded easily and with great return on investment. Mine cost me $250 used. Do a Google search and you will find reviews on them and that they are popular among budget audio lovers.

I am torn between your recommendation of the Acurus R11, and Apt Holman, Jolida JD3000 and a restored Dynaco PAS 3x.

Conrad Johnson SA250, Mangnapan MGIIb, Luxman CD

I've owned 3 of the four and seen inside the Jolida,PAS 3 and Bottlehead are easy to fix, odds are great you will end up throwing the others away because they will surely need re-capping etc and you won't like the price , assuming you even find some one to do it.

LIGHTSPEED ATTENUATER