Choice of preamplifier: help

I would add the Aesthetix Calypso to your batch. It offers very good detail and resolution (better than most tubed preamps that I have heard/owned) yet is an excellent unit for tube rolling. It offers excellent spatial characteristics and is very musical without being mushy. I suggest doing a bit of a search in the forums as it has received lots of extremely positive feedback and is typically being compared against preamps in the $7,000 - $10,000 range, which is indicative of just how good it is. New it is within your price range, used you could save quite a bit. Others I would add to your list would be AR Ref. 3 or Ref 2 (used to get closer to your range). Any of these would be preamps that you can hold on to for many, many years. The Calypso will be a bit more detailed and resolving that the CJ. The CAT, I hear, is a very good preamp (based on comments by another member particularly that I have learned to have a lot of faith in and respect for).

I just went to a dealer and took home a CJ CT-6 for a test. My first impression is quite good. It is less punchy than my Klyne, but it looks a tiny bit more musical...I don't know. I will try it more and with different types of music and let you know. Thanks

Check out the Dodd battery-powered preamp. Good review on 10audio.com. It's really something, and quite the bargain, too. Cheers,
Spencer

The new Parasound

Add the Art Audio Gill Alana to the list. Tube midrange with greater dynamics.

Blessings, Bob