Suggestions on Balanced Pre-Amp for Claytons

have you gone to the montana audio site and looked at their pre amps?

You most likely will not have heard of this brand but it should be on a short list IMO.
Reflection Audio Quantum...it is fully balanced and uses a battery power supply. Stephen Balliet has done an excellent job with this product that competes with or exceeds the very best.
I have no connection to Stephen or Reflection but would encourage you to check it out.

Wow! Wilson has been busy! I knew he recently released the M-200, but I didn't know about the M-300. I just Google'd it, I'll bet it sounds great! Congrats!

John

How about waiting until Jan and you can have the Clayton pre amp.

A Clayton Pre-amp could be a consideration, but it also could lend to a leaner, dry sound verses using a tube based preamplifier for some warmth and musicality. I've seen more references of Clayton amps being used with tubes for realistic music reproduction than a SS pre. I don't see alot of SS pre's getting musical recognition without coloration regularly except the MBL 6010D, Gryphon Mirage, or Krell Evolution Two and look at their price points. From a price performance ratio it will be interesting to hear how the Clayton sounds relative to it's price as compared to tube pre-amps. The recent review of the 200's in positive feedback used a Cary 05.