Looking 4 good lower cost pre amp $300 to $600

11-10-08: Freemand
I should mention a pre amp that accents the midrange and not so much attention to the highs. In other words, a bit warmer with a accented midrange. I like a liquid pronounced mids!

Go tubes, Man, go tubes!!!

What do you guys think of a top rated integrated amp under $1000 used?

What kind of speakers would it be driving?

An integrated under $1000 really opens up your options. On that front, I would include the audio refinement complete, the musical fidelity A3.2 and the Musical Fidelity X150. I'm sure there are a ton of others that would work well in the that price range, but these are the three I have the most experience with.

I have some Highly modded redone Kef ref 104/2.

This two channel and tube thing is kinda new to me. I have been a Home Theater geek for many years so I have to say I am learning another side of my hobby.

The integrated amp seems like a smart move perhaps. I was just going to use a spare amp I have laying around like my Chiro or Carver amps that where replaced years back by my reference HT amp. But to have it all in one package seems simple and more cost effective and perhaps more bang for the buck. I just think about only using one shelf on a higher end rack, one less set of stillpoints cones and one less Synergistic Tesla interconnect that can then go down to my HT setup.

I like the simple minimalist approach here. Am I onto something here! Are integrates a good way to go and more cost effective? Tubes do sound very appealing also.

Thanks!!

11-11-08: Freemand
I have some Highly modded redone Kef ref 104/2

Redone with different drivers and/or crossover? If so, it might be hard to know what the specs and impedance curve are now. The original 104/2 specs were - 92dB/W/m at 4 ohms, 55Hz to 20kHz (+-2dB).

Since you are a fan of midrange, tube integrated seems a natural choice and the 92dB efficiency is a fairly easy load provided there aren't some big dips below 4 ohms. And the 55Hz lower limit should save a low-priced tube amp from having to produce the hardest frequencies.

Anyway, in your price range, you might want to look for a Jolida tube integrated in the 40-60wpc range like the JD-302B(50wpc) using EL34 tubes that's for sale here at $595. EL34's are pretty meaty output tubes, soundwise and do a good midrange.