Integrated amp for my Sonus Faber Guarneri

FWIW, i also concur with Daveyf and Onemug about the positives of BAT. you might find it more precise and transparent-sounding imho than Mc while still delivering the beauty of tubes. Both are good options though and system matching (to your ear) are critical here. let us know how it goes! good luck and enjoy,

Daveyf, Onemug, Lloydelee21, anyone else...What are the basic sonic differences (and any other that might be important) between BAT and Mc preamps?

I should be able to try the C2200 soon, but not the BAT. A BAT, CJ ART, Gryphon or most of these mentioned would have to be bought blindly by international mail, which I'm hesitant to do, but unless it is on the bright or harsh side, it will probably be livable for a while I suppose.

I was thinking, since I already have one Mc, albeit just an integrated, which works really well with my other speakers and I intend to keep, it might be nice to have an alternative sound.

I found a Mark Levinson LNP-2L locally, but haven't had a listen yet. It's a bit over what I was planning to spend on a pre, and SS rather than tubes, but some people are telling me its to die for. I don't generally like the Levinson stuff I've heard, feeling it all a bit dry, but people say this one is special an unlike their new stuff.

I'm hoping not to go beyond about US$5K for a used preamp, a budget that both the BAT vk32Kse and McIntosh C2200 I'm looking at fall well within.

D.i,l,e, with that kind of a budget for a used preamp, I think you should have a very good selection. I personally really like the CAT preamps, IMHO, they are superior to the BAT preamps and most any other tube preamp you can name ( including most of the CJ ART preamps as well).
I think one could find a CAT Ultimate used for that price that again, IMHO, would be a step up over all of the BAT preamps ( except maybe the REX, which is out of your budget anyway).
As to a ss preamp, well, I feel that most of these are too dry for my liking, I also agree with you that that applies to most of the Levinson preamps...although I have NOT heard the LNP-2L.

DILE, Since you can't demo a BAT or CJ, I suggest trying the 2200 and seeing what difference it makes over what you have now and then go from there. If you like it but say "I wish it had more/less of ????" then we could possibly help from there.

May I add something re Sub:
I own a Acustik Lab Stella Novus;
http://audio-database.com/ACUSTIK-LAB/speaker/stella-novus-e.html

Not only is it an extremely versatile item, that thought along lines of bass managment, that velodyne came much later to, but also it got sold in Asia, and particularly Japan in rather huge numbers; it might be a very good alternative to aquire this second hand, it cost new nearly seven grand, until now I cannot decide if its a sign of overachieving or overcharging; but it is good. try and find one, for up to 2K$ it might be by far the best solution out there. it comes with a remote and an extensive manual(!)