I have a VTL 5.5 signiture with remote that i find to be very open and neutral in my system. I haven't tried the optional phono section yet. I can't see any reason to change. The CJ gear was too warm for me.
Sonic Frontiers Line 2 is also an excellent choice, wonderful sound, easy to use, and great value new or pre-owned. Also, allows easy and cost effective tube swapping scenarios.
If you have $14,000.00 to spend, the best remote control preamp (ever) should be available in less than three months. Not yet public, but I assure you, worth the wait, if within your budget.
Listened to lots of them at CES last week, my choice for warmth, dynamics, imaging, softness, airy ...name it.. is the VAC(Valve Amplification company) Signature Series and the VAC Virtu 105/105 Series amp...unreal !
"Best" I don't know, but the Sunfire Classic Valve Preamp is one of the best I have ever heard. In particular, it's phono stage is incredible (I use it with a Benz Micro Glider (LO)). The preamp has a very characteristic tube sound (I've been a tubehead since '59) and has a noise floor that is inaudible even with 90dB+ speakers. I drive a 300B P-P amp (Canary Audio) thru JMLabs 915s, and wouldn't think of changing the preamp. The newer models have a very nice remote (volume, mute and power) that controls an ALPS motorized pot.
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