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Best Option In A Tube Preamp $1,800 Or Less - Used

As the title says, I am looking for my best option in a tube preamp with an $1,800.00 price limit. I would be buying used to maximize purchasing power and value.

This will be paired with a First Watt F6 power amplifier. This is a wonderful amp, and with the right dose of tube magic from a pre, should make a great combination. I would appreciate your thoughts on my best potential choices which will add the golden glow of tubes to this scenario. Thanks for any assistance.
nightfall
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,816 posts
 
And there is an SP-16 available on Audiogon right now, at a good price.
pdspecl
254 posts
 
I'd like to recommend a Doge Clarity tube preamp. I've owned a VTL 2.5, Tad 150 Signature. N.E.W (Cary) pre, Ming Da (Response Audio fully modded), Mike Elliott modded Counterpoint preamp. The Doge betters all of my previous preamps. Certainly not suggesting it's the best preamp at this price point but it's worth considering once you swap to good NOS tubes. Has remote and a very decent tube phono stage that accommodates MM and MC carts
holygrailaudio
94 posts
 
Belles 21-A auricap, get a pair of quality tubes, they determine the sound as a tube can and will.

It was reviewed I think in stereophile in a statement system against a $10k+ Lamm and outperformed it, and that wasn't an upgraded auricap version.
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