Try and find a company that rents out audio gear and try a bunch of different ones. Every preamp has a different color from the next, and the nuances of each can vary dramatically. It's best practice to try as many as you can before you buy any one. IMO of course. You will have to spend some loot to rent, but it will save you money in the long run because you will definitely end up more satisfied in your decision, and won't end up having to flip your purchase because it wasn't what you were expecting.
Side note: Horseclick wasn't wrong either. There are many preamp manufacturers making 500 series modules and the used market is pretty decent. You will have to buy a rack PS, but you can definitely try out a few different configurations before deciding what your final vocal chain will end up like. There are some badass 500 series effects modules you can look at later on too, such as comps and eq's, etc. which can potentially improve your vocal recordings even further.
Another option would be something like the UA Apollo Twin.... Audio interface with onboard DSP for handling plugin processing and pretty impressive preamp modelling. Might be an option if you're looking for something more versatile, as you can buy more plugins as required and change the "preamp" with a simple plugin change.
Sorry for the long winded response, but honestly, preamps/channel strips are not something to spend loot on without knowing how the device will respond in your application/setup. If you can't try before you buy, just ensure that wherever you purchase, that they have good return policy.
nogginj wrote:sometimes you make too much sense too early jones and it leaves us blinded ;]
