Tube or solid state

The $6K Bladelius Audio ASK Integrated Amp, this changes everything now ! 😲

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdVHG8_Y76M

Very Uncanny 3D Sound Like Really Good TUBES TOO !

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWtuf0C54_U

 This is why these amps Sound SOOO GOOD ! 

www.bladelius.com/about-us/

https://highfidelity.pl/@main-4308&lang=en

www.bladelius.com/news/

www.bladelius.com

Had a Gryphon Diablo 300 integrated amp (ss) with an ARC Ref 2SE phonostage.  Awesome combination - added some tube flavor to the music. I think the ss/tube combo is a good compromise.

Tube amps in my opinion are too high maintenance, although they sound good for certain music. In a world of growing shortages, tubes may increasingly become difficult to find and expensive to buy. I like the idea of a tube preamp coupled to a nice solid state amp. Besides, small signal tubes last quite a long time depending on the design of the tube preamp.

Can someone recommend me a good tube preamp that would fit on a desktop $500 budget?

@audiomike33 

https://www.schiit.com/

https://www.schiit.com/products/saga-2 Under $500

I live close close by. I like more vintage gear, but they make very nice affordable sounding equipment, very nice on there demo floor. Made in USA etc. 

I have there pricer Dac and their cheap passive sound great!