Buying New Preamps- need your Advice

Good folks,



I have an opportunity here to choose and buy from the following selection with a rough budget of around $3.5k

These are used pieces in various levels of working condition (from acceptable to excellent).



Which would you advise to get as a better investment at the moment?

I'd like to add two good preamps - preferrably an identical pair of something, gorgeous yet flexible (to accommodate stereo work, hardware synths, bussing stuff, etc), but that's not the most deciding factor, as i do have other pieces that could suit that for now. I could go for two different pre's if they each offer something incredible. And some of them are dual channel already. DI's on board are obviously a huge plus.

This would need to cope with male/female vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, violin, piano. Will probably outsource recording drums at this point, but may do some percussion here.



RND Portico II - $2400

Crane Song Flamingo - $2200

Chandler LTD1 - $1800 (each, pair available)

Groove Tubes Vipre - $1600 each (pair available, both will need retubed soon, one will need vu meter fixed)

Universal Audio 2610 -$1500

Charter Oak MPA1 - $1600

Phoenix DRS2 - $1600

Focusrite ISA 110le - $1k

Millenia HV3C (late '90s) - $1200

Millenia 2000s TD1 - $1k

Amek Pure Path Pre -$1k

Focusrite ISA428 mkII - $800

Demeter H series - $700

Lindell 18XS mkII - $600

Trident Audio 4T - $500





I do have the chance to try some of these out, but not all of'em.

Had the two VIPre's over for a week - they sounded beautiful, (after a ton of much needed cleaning the contacts, switches and wads of dust and dog-hair inside!) The variable rise time is unreal! But the tubes are spitting - will need replaced soon. And one of them had a lazy vu meter - showed about 12db behind. So I've sent them back for now, although ultimately i will crave a pair. I'm wondering if I'm wiser off with something else at this time.

Want something that would help get a distinguished polished sheen, or presence...air perhaps. VIpre's had air in gobs...but so smooth



Really curious about something like the Phoenix drs2 , but heard one channel may be noisy due to internal power routing on these.

4 channels of isa for 800 seems like a stupid bargain. I once had an isaOne, it was nice - clean but not totally sterile. Prolly wouldn't mind them again.



the 2610 looks exciting but I'm concerned if its not too dirty for female vocal and fine acoustic instruments.



But I'm open to anything really. which 2 units would you get?



(ps. i currently have an RME Octamic D, AMR peavey VMP2, Joemeek VC1Q, Art MPA gold, 16 channels of Midas Venice-F, Symetrix 628 - a mix of humble but decent stuff)



Thanks

Buying New Preamps- need your Advice