Is the AVA T+ Eight Tube pre amp a good one? What did you compare it with?

Did you have a chance to compare the AVA T+8 preamp to another
in the under $2000 range?
What where the results?
What source, power amp and speakers where used in the evaluation?
 
By the way: AVA is Audio by Frank Van Alstine. A designer/factory direct to consumer supplier.
 
 
I want a preamp with mono switch and traditional balance control and it must have remote volume control.
 
I have a Parasound P3 now.
It sounds pretty great with the direct input but I know it is not ML or Audio Research level by any means.
It does NOT have a mono switch. I use stereo subwoofers and it would be nice
with my test disc to tune in one sub at a time with a mono signal and a traditional balance control and then together.
It’s balance control is quite strange, it actuals blends one channel to the other, increasing the volume and does NOT go to full mute. And the first position if labeled as “2” but sounds like a 3 dB change, I would like to be able to make a 1 dB or 2dB change.
 
I thought I would enjoy it’s tone controls but I find them useless.
I am not happy with the sound with the inputs that can use the tone control circuits even when the tone controls defeated, I hear a slight sound stage colapse the highs are just not as revelaing. Then if even changing the treble down one notch (agin labled as "2" , the soundstage and treble detail completely collapses. The dealer says this is normal and to “spend McIntosh levels  money if you want good tone controls.” Turning the bass down does not have similar negative affect but it the rare track that I want to turn the bass down, and with the overall clarity of my system they is hardly never the need to turn the treble or bass up.
 
I do not understand why  good preamps have to cost so much.
 
Thanks in advance for your help