High end tube Preamp under $4k used that competes

Actually Jmcgrogan2 you're mistaken, I am interested in a preamp that competes or betters the Cary SLP 05. With a six year old around the house, all those exposed tubes with the SLP 05 would be a constant point of fascination that would probably lead to touching. So a preamp with covered tubes is more practical.

Foster, you will get many recos, as you can see, but only you can judge whether it "competes or betters the SLP-05". Many here will tell you that they have heard better preamps, in their opinions, but your opinion is the only one that really counts here, since it's your money.

BTW, if open tubes was a concern, perhaps you should have placed it on your original list. FWIW, I'd check with Cary to see if they sell tube cages. I know they sell tube cages for their amps.

Cheers,
John

Jmcgrogan2, if I end up with a preamp with exposed tubes and no cage I'm willing to sternly warn my young one to keep his hands off, so that's not a deal breaker, just not as practical as a covered unit. My son has actually been pretty good about "hands off" regarding my stereo gear. You are right, only I can decide which preamps compete and which to try, but feedback from users helps with making a "try-it" list.

do any of the higher end Audio research pre amps interest you?

Trcnetmsncom, please pardon me if I offer my opinion. There is always a price one pays for being both an audiophile and a manufacturer at the same time. IOW I participate in these forums because I enjoy audio. Foster_9 asked a question that I had a ready answer to- that of reliability.

I believe the rest of my answer (proceeded by FWIW, which means 'For What Its Worth') was also correct to the best of my knowledge. You might try the audition yourself someday- I did exactly that slightly over a week ago so it is particularly fresh for me.

Again **FWIW**, this issue of bass as listed in the opening of this thread is a recurrent theme in the realm of tube preamps. I happen to prefer tubes, but the bass issue was a problem for me as well- I started playing string bass in bands and orchestra in the 7th grade. So it seemed to me a logical thing to develop a direct-coupled output on a tube preamp, and having done so I am always wondering why more manufacturers don't also do it (although we do control the patent on how we do it, there are other ways...).