I use an analog tape recorder (Tascam 488 mkII) and I get great results with 2 of my Presonus Blue Tube preamps. They're stereo, with independant controls for each channel and you can control how much signal goes through the tube circuitry, so you can go from "pristine" clean to "warm" to overdriven. It seems to be the most preamps for the buck (they're $149).
I have the Blue Tube as Well. Nothing to compare it to, except that it is a million times nicer than the pres on either my mkII 424 or my FD-8(Currently broken)