looking for ideas on a tube pre amp

What is it with you guys who feel you have to throw ever more money at something thinking it just can't be any good if I don't drop $2500 on a preamp or $35,000 on a pair of speakers?  Look into a VTA SP14 (tubes4hifi.com) with an Aikido circuit.  You can build it for less than $1000.  For a reasonable amount more, they'll build it your spec.  Get it with stepped attenuators and balanced outputs if you like.   Then take the $1000 you saved and go to some concerts or buy some records.

You could REALLY save yourself a boatload by buying Aikido circuit boards, power supply, etc and build it all from scratch.  Glassware Audio sells most of what you need.  You can build a preamp equal to that $5000 name brand for 1/10th as much.  But then you wouldn't be able to sneer at the rest of us who don't drop that kind of bread, would you?

You might consider the new DECWARE ZEN TRIODE PREAMP (ZPTPRE)...  Up to 3 fully balanced inputs, dual mono construction, guaranteed for LIFE!, starting out at under $2K, and handmade with point to point wiring right here in the good old USA.  Mine has all available options and is shipping this week.  If it sounds ½ as good as my DECWARE headphone amp I'll be just ecstatic.

Good Afternoon Jeff,
Sorry -  I was mistaken and assumed that there may be an issue with your original set up, thank you for clarifying for me. That being said I would agree with your assessment to check out the Atma-sphere. Its a product that has always been on my short list, yet never made the rotation.

"I almost never stay within my budget when I start looking for components"
- I love the honesty-

Generally I have favored Sonus Fabers over the Focals, both older models, and have watched Rogue Audio put a hurting on ARC. As far as BAT, a solid company, but I have a suspicion that Atma - sphere will give you more bang for the buck. Have Fun

You Have Atma, Herron and DeHavilland. It's great to have such fine choices in this price range. Either way you are in for a treat.
Personally have a Zesto Leto, balanced and transformer coupled with very low output impedance which helps with the long run to my Mcintosh MC 60s. 250 Ohm out to 500K Ohm input keeps plenty of pressure in the line. 
With the JC1 and it's 100K input impedance you can match with any of the above.

This is one factor that I am likely never to sell. It’s about as satisfying and musical as I could imagine and a ton of fun to operate. It makes my all digital rig sound cool.