Best tube pre-amp below US $ 10.000,00 ?

Franpiet
I dunno. The only way to determine that is to audition each of them in your system. Hearing them side by side by side at a dealer would be helpful provided the amplification and speakers were similiar (ideally identical) to your own. However the chance that any retailer has both Hovland and CAT is small although you may find one in larger metropolitan areas. Supratek does not do retail so a 3 way comparison is quite unlikely.
Performance vs. $$$ I think Supratek is untouchable as you are saving 40%-50% buying owner direct. All of course IMO.
FYI, I have the Grange not the Cortese.

A used CJ ART II.

I would say a new Blue Circle BC3000 mk2.

Read some of the reviews, I think you might like to give it a try.

www.bluecircle.com

Another option would be a CAT pre-amp.

Happy Listening,
Nick

CJ 16LSII
Thor 1000
Wright Sound - anyone of them for the money

BRIAN, how would you describe the differences between Hovland and CAT ?

Wc65mustang: would you say that the Grange is in the same league as the Hovland, the Ayre, the Aesthetix or the CAT ?
Is there a big difference between the Supratek Cortese and the Grange?