Opportunity to buy the best Preamp... but which?

The music which resides on the media of choice for home listening should be re-created to it's fullest measure. Comparison can only be made with live music. Getting the most expression of the artists intent will follow....IMHO tubes in at least the preamp stage are required!

I think you should audition the latest Spectral reference preamp first to use as a benchmark in your evaluations.

You might want to look at and listen to the Joule Electra LAP 150 Mk2, which has line and phono stage capabilities for most low output moving coils. I'm extremely impressed with its combination of dynamics and musicality + asking price. I've owned or home auditioned the Supratek Cortese, Shindo Masseto and Audio Note M3, all very fine preamps, but, up to this point, the Joule is the one that has truly won me over.

Dave b, I'm surprised that preamps such as those from FM Acoustics and other state-of-the-art SS brands, such as the Essential 3150, are not more emphatically praised by you. Your criteria for valuation seem to be spot on and, IMHO, these devices could definitely help you in your drive to realise them. They are not cheap but if you get a chance, do give them a whirl.

I've heard most of the preamps mentioned in this thread and have owned quite a few others. Also, I've had great results with ARC long term .... not to mention my dealer treats me very nice $$$$$$ SS can sound great on some material but tubes imbue life like no other designs I've experienced. System synergy and musical preferences will drive the results more so than any individual component however...I owned totem forests with a krell 400xi and sony dvd player which sounded freakin amazing in a small room..go figure!!