What about an older pass linestage, from the Aleph series? It can be passive and active should you wish, it seems that it is one with the best compromise if you doubt that passive can satisfy you...because there is always an element of doubt. The non remote version of this preamp goes between 1k-1.5K, the remote controlled version is very hot in the used market and can easily go for 2K....This being said, all Pass linestages are popular in the second hand market. There is also another preamp, the popular Adcom 750, which is also offer passivity and active stages, should you wish, but as someone else stated in a review, it is no match to the newer Pass X series, and possibly superficially similar to the old Aleph P series. If you like minimalism, as if seems your audio philosophy stands, then go the Aleph Ls are as minimal, but not flimsy as they come. Check some threads on them.
The only tubed preamp that I think could match the minimalist philosophy might be the First Sound active preamps...for they were developed from the idea of passives, which Emmanuel stopped making in favor of the highly tauted First Sound Presence Deluxe II...not well reviewed in magazines, but with a cult following.
Lak himself has a First Sound Presence linestage on his set up, does this tell you something?
I myself have the Presence Deluxe MKI, seating on my rack waiting for the time when I switch back to it and a dynamic pair of speakers.
The only tubed preamp that I think could match the minimalist philosophy might be the First Sound active preamps...for they were developed from the idea of passives, which Emmanuel stopped making in favor of the highly tauted First Sound Presence Deluxe II...not well reviewed in magazines, but with a cult following.
Lak himself has a First Sound Presence linestage on his set up, does this tell you something?
I myself have the Presence Deluxe MKI, seating on my rack waiting for the time when I switch back to it and a dynamic pair of speakers.