Amp/Preamp Asylum

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best true balanced tube pre amp under US$10,000 used

Posted by benno on August 9, 2012 at 10:59:20:
I am looking for a secondhand/ex demo tube preamp for a Gamut D200i which is a Danish manufactured solid state power amp which works optimally using its balanced inputs. The Gamut has adjustable gain and is rated at 240 watts into 8 ohms. It has a matching solid state preamp, the D3i but as the old adage goes I would like to "inject some tube warmth into my system". I use a Resolution Audio Cantata source and Sonus Faber Cremona Floorstanders(pre M series). I will be ultimately looking at a vinyl source once I get the funds together! As I am based in Ireland there is limited opportunity to demo gear. Accordingly, I would welcome readers comments/recommendations. The preamp must be tube and truly fully balanced. A phono stage is not necessary. There are some worthy contenders out there but they are not true balanced. Those I have been reading about/considering and which appear meet my requirements/buget are as follows:
cary slp 05
nat symmetrical
blue circle BC3000 mark 2 Gpz
bat vk 51 or 52 se(rex better but probably too recent and expensive)
arc reference 3
ear 912
audio note m5
aesthetix callisto signature mark2

Thanks very much in anticipation.