Which Tube Pre for 5K?

Barrelchief, did you audition the VAC or BC? What tubes did you end up using with the Calypso?

Thanks.

I forgot to mention that there is another recent post in which other Audiogon members comment on the work of Joseph Chow and his Audio Horizons products. Search "Audio Horizons TP 2.0 Preamplifier."

CAT is not balanced. I am not either, apparently. No remote either. My bad.
Calypso was my second choice, but I didn't need the remote, and felt I didn't need balanced after hearing the CAT.
So my vote is Calpso (new) or VK51se (used).

Robal,

Try the BAT 51se. Best sound and customer service I've come across!

All the best,

Tom

I've heard the BAT, the Aesthetix, the Blue Circle mentioned above, and I'll add another one - VTL 5.5. They are fine preamps. However, I've chosen to own the Audio Horizons TP 2.0, a balanced tube preamp. Audio Horizons has a home trial program. The fully loaded version (I own this one) costs less than $3.5K. I think it outperforms the other preamps mentioned above, but you can test that assertion in your own system.