Tube Preamp / Preamp for Vocal and Instruments

Tubes? No - Not in the "budget friendly" category.

(Keeping in mind that tubes generally have absolutely nothing to do with "tube" sound...)

Solid state? GAP, FMR, Grace, True... That list would go on for a bit. Clarifying "budget" would be a help...
 
For $300 you can get the Presonus Studio Channel, and it's certainly not their cheapest tube pre. Has a nice warmth.
 
Well, some would argue rather the tube matters in it or not. But the art mpa ii, for that price range, you will find results. People will tell you other wise because of the price and it's hard to believe that it does what it does. But it does. Rather tube or not tube is doing it. It's producing those results people who ask these questions are trying to get.
 
+1 for the VTB 1. you can blend a tube and solid state tone though its a pretty subtle difference.
 
Tube/valve preamps in the range you're looking at have a rather mirage like effect on the sound.
MOST of them in this range dial in some tube/valve noise to give the perception of tube warmth.
The tubes/valves aren't doing the processing so the sound you think you're getting isn't what you think you are after even though it may be an excellent sound for you/your purposes.
In short the tube/valve influence on the tone is more apparent than real.
It's not unlike the witch test- see a witch, throw her in the water - if she swims she's a witch.
Throw her in the water & she drowns she's not a witch but she's dead so it doesn't matter.
The review at the end of the active link in the post above (VTB1) explains taht it adds colouration via the tube/valve.
 
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