Recommendation for tube preamp

I’m not sure I understand what a "passive equalization circuit" consists of.

@jlbkmb1958 In a phono section the equalization can be in a feedback loop or can be independent of feedback, the latter of which is a resistor/capacitor network which imposes the proper EQ curve as the signal passes through it; this is simply known as ’passive’ as opposed to ’active’ when the EQ is in a feedback loop.

moto man.    Did you find extra midrange coloration with the Ref 6?   I preferred my MSB direct on trying both Ref6 and ref 6 se 

moto man. Did you find extra midrange coloration with the Ref 6? I preferred my MSB direct on trying both Ref6 and ref 6 se

Geez, Ref 6 is pretty uncolored and clean for a tube pre. 6H30 are generally the cleanest sounding tubes, and Ref 6 is an excellent implementation of them.

If you talk about solid state preamps, or direct-drive with DACs - they usually sound fairly sterile and dry to me. Not my kind of sound. Now if you insert a good SS pre / DAC volume control in front of a tube preamp, you will hear 99% the same sound as the tube pre alone. So yes they are generally very transparent and uncolored - but I don’t like the sound of them alone in most cases. You could take this as damning rebuke of tube preamps, but our systems & hearing mechanics are very complex, and I will choose the more enjoyable & engaging sound (for me) every time. Hearing & preferences clearly differ from audiophile to audiophile. 

The ARC, LS28 is a thing of beauty.  If you can swing it, you won’t be disappointed.

All the best.

Why not try the audible Illusions modulus 3B get something that's handmade not something that's mass produced