best preamp ever - cost is no object

21 entries and more than 21 candidates! I bet there are more than that. So here's my recommendation:

1. Go with tubes.

2. A good preamp can drive interconnects over 25 feet with no ill effects at all.

3. Avoid remote control volume systems except those where a motor drives the volume control, which will be based on a multiposition switch. All other volume controls fall short!

4. The preamp will be built with a custom wire and if not handwired, then will sport custom materials in the circuit board (not FR4 IOW).

5. It will have the very best caps and the very best caps are Teflon.

6. The signal path will be simple.

7. The outboard power supply will be heavily regulated.

These 7 features are essential! This should help you rule out some of the non-players.

I heard a lot of preamps, and only a few are excellents preamps. Among the SS preamps the new Connoisseur 4.2 surely is the best with Vitus,Viola, Boulder series 2000, MBL,CTC, FM and Burmester very near, and probably only reyaudio preamp is equal or better than Connoisseur.
But for me the best preamps, or better the preamps that are more easy to work with , are the tube preamps, they are less expensives than the best SS preamps, because as there are so many few excellents SS preamps they are very expensives.
Among the tube preamps there are many gems: Kondo M-1000,emotive audio epifania and Messenger are for me the very best, but Callisto and VAC are very near and a little behind are ARC ref3, EAR, VTL 7.5, ACT 2

You must check out the Boulder 2010. The attributes of the well-known Boulder 2008 phono stage are the same for the 2010 - that is massive detail, natural dynamics, harmonic and timbral accuracy, and huge soundstage. And the sheer beauty of sound and eminent musicality is just icing on the cake!

I have the 2010 Boulder Pre along with the 2050 Monos. I have to say that I haven't listened to many of the above listed well-respected names, but all I can say is it's a GREAT preamp, no sound colorations, very fast and very natural. It is at least 2 classes above than my previous ML Ref. Preamp. Yes, it's insanely expensive (but so are the most of the above) but you'll love it...

the darTZeel NHB-18NS is the best i've heard; and i've heard many listed so far. battery powered and including a world class phono stage and remote volume control it is hard to beat. if you are using a darTZeel amp you can use the 'cheap' 50 ohm BNC 'zeel' cables which likely humble any other interconnects and can somewhat pay for much of the upgrade if you have a long run of expensive cable between pre and amps. since it is battery powered it doesn't matter what power cord is used....saving more money and simplifying setup.

the darTZeel does not sound like solid state or tubes....it sounds like the source it is fed....and yet it is easily the most dynamic preamp (you have not heard dynamics until you hear battery power) and has the lowest noise floor i have heard.

it should be on any short list of best preamps ever.