Advice on pre-amps needed

I'm currently using a Schiit Freya that is possibly too inexpensive for this thread, and a Dennis Had "Firebottle" HO SEP amp (also relatively inexpensive)...I HATE noise and hum from hifi gear, and use noise defeating outboard power supplies for my DAC and phono preamp, a PS Audio Humbuster III, well shielded cables...etc. There is zero "tube rush" or noise in this rig, and you can stick your ear on the treble horn of the Klipsch Heresy IIIs for verification of that as long as you wipe the earprint off afterwards. There was zero noise from my previous push/pull tube power amp also...so clearly I don't get the alleged sonic "cost" of tubes, although there is a cost to collecting them...utterly worth it as they can make things sound better than otherwise.

ayre gear need be broken in and warm !!!! i suggest leaving preamp on 24/7 and of course breaking it in....Charlie was pretty adampt about the need for a preamp for his gear to sound best..and IMo agree..there will of course be dissenters, who are sometimes right..it seems a case by case thing...
i have some aesthetix gear, Jim White certainly knows his stuff, has good ears ... have fun

Just for the last few posts, hope you all realize this was a thread from 2005.

frankpiet

Your Aero has 5v!! output at 100ohms output impenance with it’s own analogue volume control with the remote, this is by far enough to drive any power amp direct (most only need around 1.5v for full output!!), and you’ll have far better transparency and dynamics and less colouration than any preamp could hope to have.

Go direct and save fortune and get a better sound by not having an expensive preamp in the signal path.

If you need to have multiple input switching the get one of these
http://www.goldpt.com/sw4.html

And get a separate phono stage with it’s own level control, like these or better, depending on your love of vinyl. And put it through the Goldpoint switchbox as well.
https://www.aussiehifi.com.au/products/cambridge-audio-duo-mc-mm-phono-preamplifier?variant=69676821...

https://www.hifisystemcomponents.com/phono-preamps/accession-mm-phono-preamp.html

https://www.adl-av.com/products/usbdac/gt40a/

Cheers George

 I would not suggest limiting yourself only to preamps with the onboard phono stage.  Your options open up a lot more if you go with separates.