Looking for warm tube preamp (should pair well with Pass power amp), budget $6000

It was good until I put in a set of 1966 I think..

Telefunken,Mullard, Amperex,  Siemens in 12AU7. That really warmed it up

the SP14 is just a straightforward Aikido design, as published by John Broskie (see Tubecad Journal for full details) with regulated power supplies. Broskie also supplies pc boards and kits for versions which can use the 6SN7 and just about any other tube under the sun, should you so wish. Just google Aikido linestage, there‘s plenty written on the topology.

I’m using a JJ 243 preamp with my Pass Labs XA30.8 and really like it. 

OP,

If you can borrow a ref 75 se, and hooked up in your system,you might change your mind now. Ref 75 se is very powerful, do not be fooled with its 75w specs.

Both Ear Yoshino and Audio Note have distinctive warm sound and these two UK manufacturers are cherrished by french audiophiles. Their gear sounds much better than any McIntosh, Carry or AR I can think of. We also have here Jadis and some other highly appreciated names. French audiophiles love tubes. For many of them Ear Yoshino 912 is the Holy Grail in tube preamplification, which I have owned too. Very nice and warm sound. However, I personally use today Atma Sphere gear, wich is in my humble opinion even better. It is made in USA. So my first choice would be Atma Sphere MP-3, and second Yoshino 912.