Can't wait to hear about your journey! I was in a similar spot a few months ago, paralyzed by preamp choices, but then realized through reading/oping similar discussions that as long as I stayed with a digital source w/good volume control, it was wiser for to spend my hifi $$$ on other upgrades first.
Speaking of choices, curious why ARC, BAT, Aesthetix didn't make the short list?
BTW, in searching through forum threads researching tube preamps, I came across this review, which in my book is a stone cold classic of the genre - https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/review-aesthetix-calypso-line-stage-tube-preamp?highlight=aesthetix%2Bpreamp%2Breview
Speaking of choices, curious why ARC, BAT, Aesthetix didn't make the short list?
BTW, in searching through forum threads researching tube preamps, I came across this review, which in my book is a stone cold classic of the genre - https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/review-aesthetix-calypso-line-stage-tube-preamp?highlight=aesthetix%2Bpreamp%2Breview