Tubes or Solid State?

In general tubes tend to be warmer than solid state. In high end products they are not warm but just more realistic.

In your situation. First, if you want to make sure your new purchase delights you, and does not just trade off one set of weaknesses for another, then I always make sure the increase in investment is at least 2x my last.

Assuming you want a better sounding system over time and given the price range you are considering and how important the preamp is, I would recommend considering putting $1200 in and buy a used tube preamp from a well established high end company… Rogue, Audio Research, or Conrad Johnson. You will have to get a moderately old one… but they tend to last forever and the sound is extremely musical.

What’s your budget and what sound characteristics/improvements are you looking for?

First, if you want to make sure your new purchase delights you, and does not just trade off one set of weaknesses for another, then I always make sure the increase in investment is at least 2x my last.

@erik_squires I know where you are going but this isn’t the right metric ($$). A $500 DAC today will demolish a $1000 DAC from 5 years ago. Same for receivers. I agree that if you are upgrading swing for the fences, but you can’t just spend $ and expect an improvement that will lay waste to your previous setup.

OP, I would ask the guys at Van Alstine since they are on your list for a recommendation, they couldn't be nicer.

I PREFER TUBES (prefer, not better, is my take on all things decent).

tube preamp, tube amp, tube phono, ... (I don’t know anything about DAC, streaming ....).

features: remote volume, balance, mode switch mono/stereo/stereo reverse... are important to me, that keeps me with a mix of vintage and modern.

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First, what speakers, especially how efficient, high sensitivity are they?

I always recommend speakers efficient enough to keep power needs lower, that is what makes it easier to try tubes.

Less power saves money, and involves less heat, smaller size, less weight, easier placement, line of sight for remote beams ...

less power = less # of power tubes = less replacement cost, easier to try tube rolling ....

@kota1 where is @erik_squires in this?