Looking for preamp recommendation

I owned Pass amps for decades and the best match was Audio Research preamps. The Phonostage is as important as the preamp and is best in a separate box… Audio Research also makes some of the finest.

I have also owned Pass preamps. I highly recommend Audio Research. They are natural and musical. Highly recommended. My systems are shown under my UserID. The longer I listened to music and appreciated the natural beauty of it, the more I was drawn to ARC.

@ghdprentice - awesome setups you have! 

Yes - I have always loved Audio Research sound, but the reference line is out of my reach at this point. I was looking at LS28 SE which I think is a top flight preamp, but still at $10K USD no phono is tough for me. 

Bryston BR 20 is a nice pre.  Streamer and DAC built in but no phono.

The key question is what sound characteristics are most important to you.  Forget about being drawn into looks unless McIntosh preamps give you the sonic qualities you’re looking for.  Are you looking for more tube warmth and fullness or more neutrality with some tube magic?  That should be your determining factor, so if you share that info you’ll get some great recommends here. 

OP, go used. You can drop down to a level you can afford. If you look 5 - 10 years old. I bought used until I could afford new.