Tube Preamp suggestion for the uninitiated

I don't know that you have to spend more than $50 but if you did I would suggest Nordost's Red Dawn, they are available used for about 150-220 on average. I enjoy Nordost with tube equipment especially as they seem to provide some edge or speed that is somewhat marginally absent without. Others may differ on this. Look them up in the archives for further info.

Preamps that I have used that you can get used for less than $1000 that you should put on your list are the Magus (with a very good phono section) and the EAR 834L (which is a line stage only). But, FWIW, I've never used either with a SS amp.

If you want a more neutral preamp consider the Quicksilver Line Stages.

The EAR would be my choice. It is a very simple tube amp (and it looks it!) in a small box with 3 tubes. Its tone is very flexible with tube changes (there are only 3) using new production (cheap)tubes and they are not stressed at all. So it is a minimal maintenance unit. Problem is they don't come up too often.

At this level of components Blue Jeans IC's and Canare 4sll speaker cable are just fine. They are cheap, well constructed, and well worth the few bucks you will pay.

Hope that helps a bit.

awww, poor belkin getting thrown under the bus!

their pureav stuff is actually good - and really good for the prices you can usually find them.

their speaker cables in particular are really quite good.

poor widdle bewlkin.

I would look at a used CAT. It was my first Hi-End preamp and is still hard to beat. A cheaper alternative, if you can find one is the Audible Illusions Modulus 3a.

The tube preamps from Mapletree Audio are supposed to be very good for their price. Another Audiogon member I know well is using one and he's owned the likes of the top end CAT and Joule Electra preamps. Same would go with a company like Decware. Great bang for the buck.

As for cables. Mogami would work nicely for a start. There are also excellent budget speaker cables out there as well. Someone recommended JW Audio advertised here on Audiogon and after taking a look myself am tempted to give them a try. One thing about cables, lots of vendors offer trial periods so don't be afraid to try out some and send back those you don't like.