Used tube preamps, Cary, AR, Aesthetix, Wells...........or?

Not knowing what your budget is, it’s hard to make a recommendation. For full disclosure I am a fan of Audio Research, having gone through a number of preamps and amps in a step-by-step upgrade journey. 

Audio Research preamps stages are well known for their sense of space, openness. and layering. 

If it’s within your budget, I would take a close look at the Ref 3 preamp. It’s 8-10 years newer (2006-) than the Mk II. A Ref 5SE would be an ever bigger step up.

Ultimately it’s a budget + personal preference decision, that can only be made by you. Good luck!

It all depends on what sound you’re looking for as to what preamp to choose.  Warm, smooth, dynamic, more detail, more highs, less highs, etc.  The Cary SLP-98 is a very smooth sounding preamp.  Not the epitome of “detailed” but sweet, warm and with mods can be a fantastic preamp.  The type of coupling caps chosen for upgrade will determine much of the sound.  Also a lot of power supply improvements dramatically help make it a really nice preamp.  I’m a retired tech and know this preamp well.  I prefer the SLP-05 for more detail and frequency extension on both ends although not in its stock form.  Needs some upgrades to smooth it out.  It just depends on the price range you’re looking at.  I’ve modded the heck out of some SLP-98’s and they can sound really beautiful.  Still some people (like me) will want more air, detail, extension).  I’ve never been a big fan of the AR sound but that’s me.  Aesthetix makes amazing equipment although some of the preamps use a lot of tubes.  I have not heard the Dodd preamp but I’ve heard a few battery powered preamps that were truly amazing although those were typically solid state or just certain areas of the circuit run by battery.  

To Jonwolfpell

Which AR preamp did you have? 100 years ago. You must be pretty old. :)

Harpo75

Was hoping to spend 2k to 3k or so, a little more if needed. Many used pres out there in this range, a lot of them were 5k to 10k new. At some point, age becomes an issue. Not sure when that is. 

I appreciate as much detail as I can get. I appreciate when I can listen and feel the instruments or singer in front of me. I like when the sounds are out in space. My favorite cartridge is a very low output MC, Fidelity Research FR1, Mk III F. It has amazing detail, clear highs and very deep bass. It reproduces brass and strings as well as I've ever heard. The AR 9's have tremendous bass, solid mids and decent (better than average) highs. They do classical music the best but I listen to a variety of things, nearly anything but jazz. Closest to jazz for me is Steely Dan or Mannheim Steamroller. Both made some amazing recordings. Virtually every tube or equipment test of any kind for me will involve some Fresh Aire recording on vinyl. Some of the best vinyl recordings ever made in my opinion. Crystal Clear direct to disk are my best classical recordings as well as a few other direct to disks that I have. 

I am always very critical of recording quality, at least how my system does it and how my ears perceive it. About 15 years ago, I sat down with someone who was a retired NASA engineer and re-introduced him to some vinyl. He said he had not listened to a record in 20 years, having switched to CD's. He had AR 3's at home, himself. He was blown away by what he heard. He said it was like being there. I said, "that's the whole idea". This is a guy who used to be married to a concert pianist. He had heard a lot of live music in his day. We listened to several of my best classical LP's, most if not all, were D2D, Telarc and Crystal Clear. Might have  been one or two that were not but if so, were just great anaolog examples. Anyway, fun day and a very fond memory.

Currently using another LOMC, Sumiko Talisman S. A very nice cartridge in it's own right but the FR is better, to my ears. I also have several MM's that I listen to now and then, Shure V15III, Shure V15IV, Denon DL109R, Nagatron 185E. I enjoy all of them but have my favorites. All my stuff is old. At some point, some things need to be replaced or repaired. Who knows what's next? At this point, it is the preamp. Thanks very much for all the advice. 

Bimmerlover

Thanks. AR gets a lot of attention. There seems to be a group who does not like it and another that does. Always the way, I guess. I think much of it has to be synergy with other components. Lots of things in the mix. For a vinyl nut like me, even more. Cartridge, stylus, SUT when needed, separate phono preamp, separate preamp, tubes (tremendous variety there alone) amps, cables and wiring, speakers. That's a load of crap to "synergize". 

I appreciate the reply. There is a ref5 currently available at around 5k. I'd just hate to drop 5k and find out that I'm in the "I don't care for AR" camp. There are a couple lower models too, LS17 and another but I don't know much about them. Anyway, thanks very much. Always like to hear other's experiences, likes, dislikes and why they feel the way they do.

Bill