6sn7 and 12sn7 octal preamp for under $5k


Love the sound of octal tubes in preamps (6sn7 & 12sn7). Looking for the best sounding (with phono preferably but not a deal breaker) for the area of $3k-5k new or used does not matter.
jeremy72
Thanks everyone for your suggestions. The Melody Valve looks interesting but not sure if I would invest in a Chinese built hi-end preamp, at lease at this point in time. Does anyone have any experience with the Thoress preamp from Germany? I believe it uses 12sn7's in the linestage also.

Will do research on the deHavilland Ultraverve and the Valvet in the meantime.

Blue Circle from Canada made 6sn7 based preamps years ago, not sure how they would hold up these days though.
I like the TRL Dude and the Modwright LS-100 in the less than $5K category. For under $1K, I prefer the Transcendent Grounded Grid to the MapleTree.
The Melody 101 is designed in Australia and made in a dedicated factory/craft facility in China. Not only is the parts content world class but it is mostly point-to-point hand wired with exquisite attention to detail and it is finished to premier western standards. Given its parts content it is a bargain at its price materially and sonically. You should have zero reservations about whether to "invest in a Chinese high-end preamp." It's a world class product that when stuffed with NOS 6sn7s and a vintage rectifier, is one of the two or three best linestage preamps I've heard in the last 40 years.

Phil
Did not realize that Paul, thanks for the clarification regarding the Melody 101 mfg. origins.