Pls recommend a tupe pre under 2500 for my system.

Before u spend your money check out the Musical Concepts website to see their Chameleon preamp. It is in your price range and can be configured with many different tube plug in circuit boards. It is a very good sounding preamp and is in your price range. Ask them if they give a money back guarantee if it doesnt suit you.

Dodd audio buffer pre amp is very good. I am very impressed and it not too expensive

Another vote for the Musical Concepts Chameleon. Great preamp.

I use the same speakers with ARC gear, but I have also used the Bel Canto integrated (briefly) with my Ohms. I'm not so sure that a tube pre will get you all the way to where you want to be. Both Bel Canto and the Ohms strike me as pretty neutral sounding, so sub-par (particularly tipped up pop and rock) recordings sometimes suffer. I'd guess that "dialing in" some added warmth might make such a system a little more "program material" friendly. Doing so via a tubed pre might be a good idea, but it might also be a tough job.

You could try an older C-J, Cary, Audible Illusions, etc., but a tubed power amp might make a more dramatic change.

Just my own experience FWIW.

Marty

Would anyone characterize modern ARC preamps using the 6H30 tube as "warm" in the traditional sense? I'm a little on the fence about that one.

Of the ones mentioned, I'd say Cary is closest to the warm, lush, type of sound. But, that is really my impression of some of their power amps more than their preamps. Art Audio would probably be the next.

Of course, most tube preamps are going to warm compared to most solid state.