Line Stage Preamps that blew you away $2500 Edition

Another vote for Khozmo/Hattor.  Arek's latest passive using reed relays as opposed to a stepped potentiometer is fantastic (Takman REX/AMRG resistors) .  My former passive was a Slagle/Intact audio autoformer pair (a fine sounding unit in its own right).  My last active pre was a Berning ZOTL Pre One.  I have used Berning amplifiers for the past 25 years.  

@tweak1 @palasr Yes the Hattor is very interesting. Passive and gain stage., I am very seriously considering this as well as the Denafrips Athena and Holo Serene. The Athena really excites me after reading more into it. Its a buffer with unity gain. The bummer is I'm all single ended (although my DAC is a $100 Topping so getting the same one with XLR is not a huge deal as I don't listen hard to it, its for TV and Movies).

I am probably not going the tube route as I have too much gain so a buffer stage and/or unity gain seems the way to go.

Interesting. I woulda thought  this question had previously been discussed in enough detail that there would be no need to ask the question again. But hey! That's what we all love around here, isn't it? I mean, why else would I be joining in on this excellent thread? 

You've got solid recommendations above. But I'd like to refer you to another thread. Go to the top of the amps/preamps forum. Look for the tab that says something like "popular all time". At the top of that tab you'll find the thread "Preamp Deal of the Century" which is all about Supratek preamps (which is what I ended up buying). The "budget" Supratek gets rave reviews, has for twenty years, and is right in your price range.

One other thing. Be warned. Once you get one of these preamps you'll spend a lot more time listening to music and a lot less time reading internet Fora....

Just sayin'!

Good luck and enjoy the journey.

@markusthenaimnut  at a reported 26db of gain thats a bad decision. I have way too much with a pre that outputs 18. I bet it sounds amazing and I did read extensively into it. Not going tube most likely but thanks.

Dont u get a better linestage by spending 10 to 15k?

2500 seems low endish with limits