Vacuum Tube Preamp for Solid State Power Amp Pairing

What pre are you using now, what improvements are you looking for over that, and what sound characteristics are most important to you?  This info will result in recommendations much more suited to your specific tastes/needs.  And don’t worry too much about output impedance as it’s a non issue with your amp for almost all preamps on the market. 

These sub $5k, rated class A gears might be viable choices...

Audio-GD Vacuum HE1

Lab12 Pre1

PrimaLuna EVO 400

Rogue Audio RP-7

+1

Used:

Conrad Johnson

Audio Research

VAC

This!

This is a Hovland HP-100 preamp.  To over-simplify things, there are two types of tube preamps, the kind that appeals to the audiophile side of you, and then the one where you just like to sit, relax, and listen to music because it sounds warm, has a full sound, inviting, and takes the edge off music.  This Hovland is the latter.  If you want ultra detail & speed, that'd be Audio Research.  I have one of these Hovland pre's and it plays well with my solid state amps from Pass, Esoteric and Audio Research.  Lastly, be sure you use a good power cord, like a Shunyata Python CX or Zitron, or even better yet, a Anaconda CX/Zitron.  If you got the bucks for the newer Alpha V2 or even better Sigma V2 power cords, those are something else.  One of these cords plugged into my AQ Niagara 7000 really makes a nice difference.  

I am not that familiar with linestages in your price range, but I did notice that some very good vintage ones were mentioned, like the EAR and Hovland.  However, I believe these did not come with remote control.  I think remote control of volume is a necessity, which does remove those few brands that don’t offer it, like Audio Note (Audio Note is also disqualified by price, but certainly not by sonic considerations).