I need suggestions and ideas in picking a preamp.

SS or HS PREAMP to get the BEst....

Only you can answer that one. Either can, or will, GET YOU great SOUNDS per se. The deciding factor could wind up being a mix of tastes and prerequisite functionality... remote, phase inversion, HT by pass... ETC., AND BUDGET.

..... DEPENDING ON WHAT YOU CONSIDER 'BEST' as being, in fact. My - 'our' best may differ from your own.

Around here, 'best' is simply too too ambiguous a word and carries a vast and varied assortment of definitions. it often too is just a wry inside joke.

For me, best is usuaally tube oriented power, with SS front ends.

Preamps in no real order:
Dodd
Thor
BAT
VTL
AR
Cary
CJ
... all tube pre's.

Cabling is even more indistinct ground to cover. A solidly good choice straight away would be the Cardas Neutral ref without spending too much money. Moving up further, the HT magic, SR Resolution Ref x2 active, (from pre to amps)... IMO. It will let you know just what you have on hand... and until a preamp is decided upon. Thereafter the sky's the limit.

I've tried and liked MIT Magnum, SR Resolution Ref, Cardas Neutral Ref, HT Magic II, Nirvana SX Ltd., and others... depending upon what pre with what amp (s).

Either go the A'gon shuffle, (buy & try) or rent some from the Cable co. and try em out that way.

go with BAT balanced and quiet. interconnects wouldn't matter. you can get $20/pr Mogamy XLR and try them against Nirvana or Cardas NR etc...

I agree with Blindjim's mention of cable upgrade so you can hear what you currently have equipment wise. First I'd pull the Monster Power Center and hear what happens, my experience was a big improvement when I pulled mine!!! If there isn't a big improvement upgrade cables than try again.

BlackZimbo, you will find as much tonal variability on tube gear as you will find with SS. Rather then deciding a priori on tubes or SS because of any form of external said-so, it is worth while making a hypothesis on what kind of sound you may be after, then make some listening experiments and determine if the results match more or less your hypothesis.

I have owned tubed pres from 1992 to 2008 and truly enjoyed them. In March 2008 I switched to a Rowland Capri, not because it's SS, but simply because I enjoyed it more than my tubed ARC Ref 3 for a variety of reasons, on which I waxed poetic in too many places around here. I tend to enjoy sound that is neither stereotypically tuby, nor it sounds SSish. I love loads of harmonics, good extension, linearity, good but not unnaturally magnified transient speed, quiet operation, and little/no maintenance/upkeep. I am after a musical experience that lets me sink into my sofa and get lost in the music, and not sit on the edge to feel adrenalin and anxiety. My listening prefs are classical with a smidjin of female vocals.

The bottom line is that only a lot of auditioning of both SS and tubes will let you discover what may be right for you.

G.

I'd say think about replacing the monster interconnects. Even Nordost Blue Heavens for maybe $100 used I've had great luck with.

A tube preamp? Do you want new or used? If used, $1K can get you a very good tube preamp. $1800-$2000 can get you a very, very, very good tube preamp. Cary, or C-J would be at the top of my list, but also VTL, ARC, you can't go too far wrong......

Try to "have fun" with the search!