Who makes great active preamps ? Tube or solid state or hybrid.

The Schiit Freya...A remote, a 128 step relay switched very accurate attenuator, three choices of remote selectable passive, FET, or tube output through 4 6SN7GTBs, fully balanced operation, five remote selectable inputs including two balanced and three single ended, three outputs including one balanced and two single ended, and excellent low noise floor sound that I enjoy immensely. It's USA built and costs around 700 bucks, supported by geniuses who may or may not be gentlemen, but are more like curmudgeonly rebellious marketplace disturbers.

love the Schiit-Stirers !!!

I love my McIntosh C500

Oh man, gonna get a Schiit saga next month..Can't wait to dump my Onkyo receiver that I am using exclusively a a pre-amp (although a great home theater receiver). I am not completely sure this receiver is doing an ADA conversion with my turn table, so Schiit is gonna remedy this for me.

If the Saga sounds this good, I can’t imagine what the Freya sounds like.  I really can’t say how the Schiit Audio pre’s compare with the high end, but I can say that the Saga easily bests my mid-fi Parasound P-5, and costs 1/3 the price.

More top end detail, lower noise floor and a soundstage that is immersive.  I do have excellent speakers, Totem Hawks, and solid core based cabling from Audioquest, but I’ve simply never had it this good.