Tube Preamps.....


I am running 2 GFA 565 Musical Comcepts modded Amps with Vandersteen 2ce v2. I am looking for a good quality tube preamp. With or without a built in dac. Should I stick with shopping for a used Mac? Or should I look at others also. Suggestions? Like to keep it under $3000. Could stretch to 3500. Thanks for your input. 
128x128pstores
The Schiit Freya is maybe a giant killer of a tube preamp, and it's so cheap you could add an astonishingly great DAC and stay in that budget.
Another vote for the Freya. At least give it a try. For $700 bucks with a 15 day return less 5% restocking fee (and shipping) you will risk little.   It’s a very flexible, balanced design with (tiny) remote, several output modes (one of which is 6SN7 tube-based) and numerous inputs. Also has a very very good volume control and 5 year warranty.
I know...it doesn't cost enough so it must be junk. Why not let your ears decide?  

You could do Freya + Gungnir MB or even the Yggdrasil DAC at your (stretch) budget. Lots more info over on HeadFi (Freya impressions and tube rolling thread). Good luck.

http://www.schiit.com/products/freya

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/schiit-freya-impressions-and-tube-rolling-thread.832177/

Note that the only serious issue with a Freya is the fact that you could become obsessed with 6SN7 tube types…my SE power amp also has one of these (a NOS Amperex), so I seem to now have a tube collecting problem with the Freya original 6N8S tubes (which are possibly all you need), Sylvania "chrome domes," more NOS Amperex when I can find them, new version Tung Sols (not too shabby really), and more coming from stashes of NOS RCAs and on it goes. You've been warned.