Can any preamps for $2-3k touch Auregies-L?

An alternative for the kind of sound you are looking for would be the Joule LA-150MKII- not saying it is better than the Shindo, since I am not familiar with the Shindo, but it is certainly a very fine preamp in the rich tone/emotion school.

Come on , it's make lemonade time. Borrow the difference from your retirement and grab the next Monbrisson that comes up for sale!

Gopher,

I am not an admirer of Shindo gear. So it comes as no surprise that I think there are many better preamp alternatives to Shindo. However, I will say that the Shindo preamps are stronger contenders for one's attention than the power amps, overall. There are very few truly worthwhile preamps in the $2k - $3k range, regardless who makes them but there are always exceptions to the prevailing mediocrity.

One that will satisfy your bias to "texture, harmonic density and micro/macro-dynamics" not far from your stated price range is the excellent Valvet L2. This is a 6sn7-based preamp, and the US importer can offer it with a variety of 6sn7 vintages, for a real range of choices in dialing in your sound.

The Valvet will give you excellent resolution, and a soundstage that scales appropriately, but it is fundamentally a conduit for musical emotion rather than being analytic. At $3600 new, and with its power supply recently upgraded, it's sonically valuable well beyond its price-peers. The more expensive still Valvet Soulshine, which is not 6sn7 based, can give you a bit more refinement at the expense of some of the 6sn7's vividness. If you go this route, you'll be keeping your Jasmine as the L2 is a line stage.

If you want a better preamp than any Shindo at Shindo prices, get an Audion.

I have heard all Shindo from the Auregies to the Vosne Romanee. I currently own the Vosne Romanee. You get more of what the Auregies does as you go up the line. I of course have not heard all preamps and that includes the Valvet mentioned above. I have though compared Shindo to previous preamps that I have owned Lamm LL1, Lamm L2, Hovland HP100, and Wytech Opal and IMHO the Shindo preamps are far better than any of these in musicality and detail. I would try and get one with a phono as I feel the internal phono stages are as good as most top end stand alone phonos.

Gopher I can't answer your question as to whether a 2-3K pre-amp with phono can touch your beloved Shindo but I can make a recommendation, the "Preamp Deal of the Century" Supratek Syrah used or Chenin new in this range. Full function with plenty of gain for MC. It uses 6SN7 tubes in the pre out, is dynamic, resolving and most importantly emminently musical, a trancendent product in this price range, IMHO. Whether it ultimately has the magic of the Shindo to your ears, only you can answer that. The question and cavaet is whether Mick Maloney is still making these handmade gems. I believe he took a brief haitus from building but you really might want to investigate further and check out the thread if you haven't for user opinions and further info on availability. I purchased mine new in 2003 and I am still in love. Better out there, yes I'm sure, however that might be described, a bit more resolution would be my thinking but I can't imagine what the price would be and I doubt more musically involving in this price range, great bass, extended highs and a lovely midrange. If you can possibly hear one from someone near you, it might be worthwhile for you to investigate a bit further, I have a strong suspicion the Supratek would "touch" the Auregies-L for sure.