Best tube preamplifier for under $15k

@tinear123  How did you like the Pass X-22 overall..  I’m considering the XP12 mainly because of the volume control which is used on the XS pre.  I’m happy with what I have and the flexibility... but i want to TRY a Pass preamp with my pass amp.. I haven’t heard a complete pass combo and I’m curious to give it a try...  sighs..  I’ve been Tubes all my life, but this Pass amp is making me want to try a SS pre.. thanks.

I haven't tried enough to declare any best, but I will concur with those above who vote for the Don Sach's 6sn7 pre, I love mine. 

I'm also surprised more people who are into tube-based pres aren't mentioning DHT designs.  They are challenging to build without noise/microphony, but the above designs by Thomas Mayer and Vinnie Rossi provide two well-reviewed examples.  Allnic provides some others that I'd love to hear.  Out of curiosity (started by 6 moons and my ownership of Coincident speakers) and the fervent online following of DHT designs I'm having Radu Tarta build me a custom two-chassis unit based on the high gain EML 20AM tube.  Hopefully in a couple months I'll find out that the DHT adherents are correct.    

i own 6 linestages at present - no such thing as a favorite... it depends on system and what is needed but you can see what i voted for with my feet and wallet so to speak

audio research reference 3
ayre k5xe mp
cj et5
cj prem 16ls2
don sachs
carver lightspeed ref

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tried and sold (partial list) over the years

vac ren 4
modwright swl 9 se
arc ls26
arc ref 2-2
mccormack tlc
audible illusions mod 3a
cj act2
cj gat (1)
cj pv14
cj pv10a
cary slp 98
parasound jc2
ps audio bhk

I don't think there is any reasonable answer to that question, particularly because no particular requirements are specified.  Is remote control a necessary feature (to me it is), is a balance control important (again a necessity for me)?  

Do you really mean a preamp (meaning with a phono stage) or are you talking about a linestage?  If a preamp, does it have to work with a moving coil cartridge, and if so, how much gain is needed.

If I were in the market for a fairly high-end linestage, I would look at the Atmasphere linestages and Backert linestages.  I would also agree that something from Audio Note and Shindo would also be good candidates. 

For that kind of money, you could even get certain builders to make custom linestages or preamps.  I have a preamp custom made by Deja Vu Audio (Northern Va.) that was built to my requirements--remote volume control, balance control, input transformers and output transformers to mate with my amplifier which has input transformers.  By now, this model would exceed $15,000, but they make models that are a lot less expensive.

Iv owned a number of pre-amps in my past 25 years in this hobby whilst there are tons of good sounding pre-amps out there, I always came back to an Atma-Sphere Pre-amp eventually after owing the older modes selling them off than buying new version later on after few years of bad experiences with another high endbrands, I have both MP-1 and MP-3 fully loaded.  

When i sold of my older MP-1 i kinda regretted it in the end after trying so many other high-end brands such as VAC, VTL, MC, ARC, ML, Asthetix, few others custom made ones too.

A Fully Loaded MP-3 with the Volume upgrade etc etc, is not far behind the standard MP-1.

VACs are another good brand it's coloured for sure pleasant-sounding but i got very bored of it. i don't seem to get the same feeling with the Atma-Sphere gear. I get that toe-tapping feeling the speed, dynamics, transparency all almost just sounds you're being transported to a live event. They are not harsh sounding nor coloured its very hard to describe the sound especially when you use them on OTL Amplifiers. Something magical about this setup once its setup properly.


The Problem with the MP-1 is its very sensitive pre-amp in the sense you will get all the transparency you ever want but you must use very quiet tubes. This is the only issue I have. I must be careful on the tubes purchases. Tubes which pose no noise with other pre-amps seems to have some noise on the MP-1. Apart from this minor issue i honestly think it can compete against Pre-amps costing 5-6 times more easily.