Best used preamp for $1500?

I've always considered the Speakers to be the heart of a system and the preamp the soul of a system. You are asking one of the most subjective questions out there and everyone is right, they found what is right for them. Your taste, your emotional envolvement in your music and even your personality can shine through your system.... We can all give recommendations, but in the long run, you have to do this one.... I use a Coda.
Good Luck, Tim

If you can do a fairly accurate job of what your speakers are and the music you listen to most, your room size and how loud you listen, you will most likely get more recommendations.

ARC LS2B.

Cary SLP98, or Innersound Preamp

I used an Audio Horizons tube pre with my Aragon 8008BB and liked the combination. You might see a AH 2.0 used for that price