Looking for a tube Preamp new or used for under $2000...

SCHIIT FREY PLUS BEST PREAMP for $10k or less. A measly $899
with 5 year warranty

lol - well we are all allowed to dream...

ARC or VAC ASAP!!!

I own the parasound A21+ with the parasound p5 pre and just added a smsl su9 dac which has settings for warmer tube like settings and what a dramatic improvement. The p5 and p6 both are so very versatile in many ways but the inboard dac is lacking.  The su9 is also a preamp. All for under $500.

Matt, if you can solder, have patience, identify components and are not a "glitz queen", then this Japanese TU-8500 is a killer tube preamp for only $550!!!!.

MM & MC phono inputs, high or low switchable preamp gain.
Better than probably anything else up to $2k.

6 parts to this review
https://cheaptubeaudio.blogspot.com/2015/03/review-elekit-tu-8500-full-function.html

https://www.monoandstereo.com/2017/05/the-greatest-bang-for-buck-elekit-tu.html

https://tubedepot.com/products/elekit-tu-8500-stereo-tube-preamplifier-kit

https://www.elekit.co.jp/en/product/TU-8500

Cheers George

Check out a used Ultraverve by deHavilland. I had integrated amps and separates based on 12Au7 tubes for years, then tried this 6sn7 signal tube based pre. In my system the 6sn7 pre gave me what I was looking for, bigger soundstage, instruments and voices just sounded more natural. Just my experience. Everyones ears are different. Rolling that 6sn7 was much cheaper also. I was surprised how much impact a preamp has on a system.