Toobz? Pre or mic?

FWIW if the source is loud enough, some tube mics don’t even need a pre. I usually put my Stam 47 straight into my opto

Not all compressors can do this, but I always forget the Opto and other LA2A style compressors can. geoff738 you can really push your KT2A like a preamp if you want to. Lower the gain on your preamp and really push the KT2A and see what happens. Maybe grab a 48V box and bypass the preamp all together. I know the KT2A is much less vibey than the AS Opto. The KT2A sounds great with the Black Lion Audio mod though.

Good tube circuits, including even Manley, are pretty clean except for the transformers coloring the low end a bit or when pushed.

Something like an ART MPA or VLA will give you what you want. So will any of the Drawmer 1960 pieces. Goodhertz Tupe emulates a bunch of guitar tubes but the 12ax7 pre in it has to be pushed for color like most cleanish 12ax7 mic pres and preamp tubes.

There’s also cleaner dynamic mics now. The audix are cleaner and mostly pre scooped. The ATM650 is pretty much an SM57 with the haze and grit removed. Similar tonal response, no old shure distortion. Not flat like a m201.

There’s nothing cleaner to replace re20 and re50b (ev635a and the re16 are discontinued). The Neodymium versions are colored. I don’t know anyone who bit on the $800 audix pdx720 dynamic.

But hey the industry loves particular distortion even if it makes what sounds good in the room totally wrong without further processing if fixing is even possible, eg the ua610, the 1176, the shure sm57/58/7b, “Neumann” type microphones, ssl channel compressors on drums and e series boosts, the distressor, tons of modern hype plugins

Maybe I need to try this! I’ve a been using the super cheap Pyle MIC78 on snare lately instead of the SM57 and have been getting better results. Someone recommended me trying the Sontronics Solo on snare, so I’d like to try that too.

The problem with answering this is it’s about more than just a tube or transistor, it is about the whole circuit and how it interacts with everything else.

I agree with Doug most modern pres in general are attempting to bridge the gap between tube and transistor. I never really think in terms of general topology more specific tones.
The Coil is probably the most vintage tube tone of modern tube pres’s. The Demeter, is close, this is the pre that started the modern Tube revolution. Not quite as Vintage sounding, but not modern either when Demeter designed these there were not as many off the shelf Transformer options. Could live with either, but it’s still going to come down to the mic and the voice.
The Demeter is going to be pretty reasonable for a Stereo pre used & if it isn’t your taste you can probably flip it easily without much of a loss. So for budget reasons it gets a very slight nod, but before I bought one I would be talking what a re tube can get me with Bowie, I know He knows the Demeter!

it depends where it's clipping - that's different for a zillion situations. 

Then there's mic safety to consider; how extreme a situation do you subject your mics to? That can frequently dictate what mic you're willing to put out, and the tube pre can be the bonus in that case.

The Soundelux U195 could definitely benefit from a good tube preamp, as could some of your MDCs. I’m such a big fan of tube mics though. Since the U195 is your big mic right now I do think the Beesneez B67/269 would be right up your alley. It would be a bit richer sounding, particularly in 67 mode. I prefer modern mode for its top end extension. In 67 mode you get a rich and mid focused sound. In 269 mode it’s like a U87 with a tube on steroids; very open, and still mid focused.  The S2 mod switch is basically the same thing as the Fat switch on the U195. I have a recording of myself on a real M269C and the B67/269 in 269 mode, modern mode, with the S2 mod engaged sounds crazy close.  The only weird thing about the mic is it’s about 10 db quieter than my MK U67 or U87ai. It’s about 5 db quieter than my FleA 49. Still, just add some game and your in. Your Daking shouldn’t have any problems with it. 

Audioscape Opto.
Yum.
On wish list.

Back in Budget Land…
Useful Arts Hornet looks/sounds cool.

IMHO the BU67 MKI has somewhat more Clarity in OG 67 mode. Than my (last incarnation) U195/Pre-UA.
That lives on FAT mode.

BTW if you dial in “Wide Cardiod” on the BU67…
It’s similar to the fixed Cardiod of my U195.
That brings out Chest Voice, without muddying up the Voice. By relying too much on Proximity Effect.

If you guys check out our “Singing/Instrumental Lesson” Thread..,
You can learn about Michael Trimble’s teachings.
Like how “Breath Stops” influence Vocal Tones.

Chris
P.S. Thanks again to all participating there.