Recommend relatively obscure high end tube preamps

Wyetech Opal. A Harry Pearson (TAS) favorite and the most bandwith, naturalness and realism of any pre I have heard in 35 years of this mania. Almost never found used, only 2 sellers in US, but well worth seeking out. Also built to last forever.

Neal

Klimo,Brickman and any German tube.

Another vote for the New Audio Frontiers "Absolute" preamplifier. As a note, our company is the US distributor of NAF and with extensive experience with the Wavac products....the NAF "Absolute" is very special and thankfully a very honorable company!!!!

Reviews and info on our website (www.tmhaudio.com) for those inquisitive minds. btw, their "845" SET amps are nothing short of stunning - all relatively affordable for ultra high performance products, too.

I think I would also throw in a vote for Viva. Their pre-amps and amps really deliver a truly lush life-like sound. It's like the singers are standing in the room with you -haunting, really.

And they also fit your other criteria..... esoteric, obscure, hard to find, 'Spensive, sexy good looks, great finish, exotic, jaw dropping, "what the hell is that?" etc.

I have just picked up the "VivA Fono" stage. This stage works extremely well with my Lyra Titan cartridge once I removed the loading resistors and substituted the 12AX7 tubes with Amperex Bugle Boys (the model I tried was originally set up for a Transfiguration Orpheus).

The Fono is, in my setup, rich, musical and non-mechanical sounding. It is not overly warm or sluggish and it does not round off detail.

My only big "issues" with it have to do with size and difficulty integrating it into my setup. It is comprised of two very big, albeit well constructed, boxes.