Top Ten Tube PreAmp of all time?

Kublakhan Call Leonard at ARC (763) 577-9700 for upgrade info. I would also speak with Steve Huntley of http://www.greatnorthernsound.com phone 651-578-0657. Used to work for ARC and does mods. He would be throughly familiar with the differences and might offer greater insight. He personally has a 10 Mk2 that he has modified. Personally, I wouldn't pass on a SP-10 for a PH-3. If you ask Leonard I'm sure he would tell you that their current PH3 phono stage is better so I wouldn't be so ready to take his word for it.

hey tubegroover,thanks! Found INFO: leonard at audio research said he couldn't remember the price of the upgrade but it requires eliminating the phono buffer and changing all the output caps. there's a guy in Los Angeles named gary garfield at musical fidelity 310-558-0037 who does this kind of work FYI.
thanks again!!

Presence Audio Ultimate Linestage.

Dare I venture my definitive and humble opinion on the strength of many tubes that have crossed my threshold (and connected to my power circuit): C.A.T. Ultimate for line, for phono -- JP200 as per rcprince & detlof and SRPP (you had to build that one yourself. It had provision for 0,5 farad power supply for phono, direct line for *aux* with interchangeable capacitance loading and *silver alloy* recommended for internal wiring -- back in the late 70s!)
Admittedly, the CAT & JP80 are great all-rounders if U can afford them. SP6 & 10 are nice too, a bit ageing, however...

My vote for Lafayette KT-600 of the 1950's.

Warm and accurate in sound, versatile with 6 tone controls, and using the ubequitous 7025 (12ax7). There are three types of facia, of which the first is probably the most outstanding, with beautiful lettering in the lower centre, mustard caps inside that last a useful lifetime, and therefore sound consistent all these years and need the least hardware maintenance.

The bonus is that they are not choosy with tubes. Mine goes with 2 12ax7LPS (phono), 2 RCA long grey plates round getters (tone),  2 TKF ribbed (line), and an unknown one (for the center line output and the calibration drive).