Top ten tube preamps

I replaced my Ref3 with the Lamm LL1 Signature dual mono preamp. Nothing more needs to be done.IMO this is the last word in preamps

I felt that way when I got my NAD 3020 - if only there were a last word in gear. I guess when it sounds just like live music, but I don't see that happening any time soon.

My SMc Audio VRE-1 preamp is headed back from Steve McCormack after receiving some updates. He says the result is more high end extension, and more transparency. I don't know how more extension and transparency is possible in the VRE-1, but I trust Steve to deliver what he claims.

Aesthetix Callisto Partial Eclipse. Works for me.

Of course I am a tube pre fan, having owned ARC, CAT, Lamm, and currently Atma-sphere and Joule preamps, and all of you are fans too, but I would suggest that just on a lark, and for only $450 you try a Lightspeed Attenuator if you have a tube amp (100kohm input impedance). It is limited to one rca input and output, but compare it with your megabuck preamps and see what you think. I have had some dissapointmet with variour passives (resistor, TVCs and AVCs) but this humble little preamp is the best I have heard in my system. Even if you stick with your tube preamps, I'm not getting rid of mine, it makes for an interesting backup, at the very least, and perhaps you might find that you like it better than anything you throw up against it. Some thought to system matching is needed (as using SETs would be) but if you can get used to the idea of using a $450 preamp in your $50,000 setups, you might be surprised. My recommedation now for SOTA sound at a bargain prices is a Music Reference RM10 amp matched with the Lightspeed. With the money of the gear being discussed here, it is worth a try IMHO.