best bang for the buck tube preamp?

The EE Minimax is a great one, especially if you can find it at $500. I had forgot about that one.

The Bottlehead Seduction preamp would be a great amp for the money. On the side you learn some DIY. And if not interested in DIY at all, you can find them used on Agon sometime.

The Quicksilver pre runs around $550 and gets some great comments as well. My favorite sub 1k tube amp is the Fi Y, although that one never comes up used and is usually discounted only 10-20% from new.

Also, not a tube pre, but the Promitheus TVC passive preamp sound like a great deal for the money. There is a 6moon review coming up.

Good luck!

Rene

TAD 150

The Bottlehead Foreplay is the Pre Amp.. Not the Seduction it is a Headphone Amp.

Thanks Rene..I hadn't thought about this either. A fellow(oliverlim) mentioned on a thread I started on audiocircle about the Promitheus that he replaced his Rotel 1068 with the Promitheus for music. I found his comments here Promitheus. It ain't tubes but it sure sounds fantastic!

Good listening