I know the best preamps are usually the standalone ones. But the way I see it, if I'm gonna buy a mixer (to provide flexible monitoring options when tracking a band), might as well get the one with the best preamps available, that can always come handy.

We're talking sub-500$ here, 4 mic preamps is sufficient.

Okay let's say I have a limited budget(true) and let's say I have not yet bought my gear(true) and let's say I won't have clients looking over my shoulder and asking 'why there is the noticeable absence of a U87'(true):

If I'm reading you guys right, I'm hearing that an SM57 can sound like gold run through a great pre, but a $2G mic sounds like yik run through a cheapo pre-amp.

What's the world's best tube-based preamplifier & why?

• Aphex 1100MKII
• Avalon Vt-737-sp
• Drawmer 1962
• DW Fearn VT2
• M.A.L. REDD.47
• Manley Mono
• Millennia M-2B
• Mindprint DTC
• Peavey VMP-2
• Pendulum MDP-1
• Sebatron VMP-2000e
• SPL GoldMike 9844