Line Stage Preamps that blew you away $2500 Edition

@tyray 

I completely understand what you are talking about, but just to be clear The Truth is not a passive preamp, it is an active preamp with no gain. About 6 months ago I sold my (2) Power Sound Audio V1801’s subwoofers and ain’t nobody more of a bass head than me.

A couple days ago I picked up some cables to run the subs off the mains and its much more involving. So, in reality I don't need the 2nd outputs anymore. haha.

Oh well. I'd be happy if I could figure out why my current preamp eats tubes or if I am just the unluckiest person buying tubes these days.

Thanks

The Truth is not a passive preamp, it is an active preamp with no gain. 

I believe it uses an active buffer stage (one buffer on input and one on output) to provide high input impedance and low output impedance.  Unity gain is probably a more accurate way to describe it.  With today's source voltages, I doubt you would have any trouble driving typical amplifiers using today's sources with a unity gain device.  Also, it would be much better at handling the interconnect characteristics than a passive.  It does not have a remote control, display, or balanced connections.

@gochurchgo 

A couple days ago I picked up some cables to run the subs off the mains and its much more involving. So, in reality I don't need the 2nd outputs anymore. haha.

I had sold a previous receiver with sub/low outs and it was time to upgrade my mains. Also, if you would've never written this OP, I would have not heard of the Coda Technologies FET 07x preamp. Thank you. What a hobby huh!

I have a phono preamp and have never had the problem of burning out tubes prematurely? Have you done the 'taken everything apart and put everting back together boogie?' And yes reinserted the tubes too? I ground everything, phono, phono pre, amp, anything with a ground on it.

@mitch2,

It does have a remote control and for the life of me I can't figure out how such a simple designed box works with light diodes to get such a sweet sound? Heck if I know?

Quicksilver line Preamps (with or w/o remote) or a used Audible Illusions.

For the price, the quicksilvers will surprise you. 

@rob2rc21  I have the Quicksilver now (non remote) and it blasts through tubes in 6 months, hence this thread. If I could find a solution I'd keep it. Otherwise its $100 in NOS tubes every 6 months (although the current ones are dumping after 30 hours).