Hybrids, mo better. Checkout some modern electronics Hybrids www.avahifi.com Ultra SL or EC Pre Amp. More sound, less money. All tube is all tube Hybrids are teh best of the both worlds. Try it, you'll like it. Guitar amps are all tubes to give teh overdriven distortion to create the music. A pre amp in hi fi should not be creating it's own sound. Hybrids use Mosfets and tubes, each to it's own best use. Why would you want something called a shrimp, is that how it makes teh music sound, limited, constrained, small. Nothing MANLEY about something that's a shrimp

Manley makes great stuff, all of which possess deliciously silly names. Their pro-sound equipment is just as distinctive.

The Shrimp is a great little preamp. There isn't anything not to like.

Also take a look at the PrimaLuna products. They are also very nice.

I haven't compared the two. The Manley equipment tends toward a clean, well-balanced sound in my experience, perhaps because they also make pro studio goodies as well.

Kevin Deal at Upscale Audio has been great in the years that I have worked with him. He is no nonsense, fair and honest. He also has a great ear. Don't hesitate to ask him what he thinks you might like. Be prepared to tell him what is important to you - for example, accurate timbre, bass slam, extended highs, etc. All systems are a compromise and knowing what you like best helps both you and a good dealer determine what will make you the most happy. All that matter is that you extract maximum musical goodness from your recordings in a way that pleases you.

Perhaps you will want to arrange to have them both in your home at the same time and keep the one you like best.