Budget preamp recommendation...besides Schiit.

Why not a Schiit Freya +? They're amazing sounding USA made and worthy of their Class A rating. Nothing else comes close in price or features...you can tube roll, go passive, whatever. They even have a new one called a Kaya if you aren't a tube fan, similar features for 700 bucks, and I bet it sounds fabulous. What...too inexpensive?

I have 2 systems, one considerably higher than the other, and both are anchored by the Benchmark LA-4 pre -amp, balanced.  30 day trial period, guaranteed to keep. One of the best pieces of Audio equipment around, and actually priced reasonably, rare today. Robert TN

1+ on the LA4. I have been saying this for almost a decade now. I got laughed out of the "Best Amp" thread for saying this a few years ago. Using the LA4 or (Holo Serene preamp) with really great gear is not a mismatch.

Cheap killer preamp? The Chinese Weiliang-made MBL 6010d clone is just that. Just be shure to give it some good sounding op-amps. 

BB OPA627 single op-amps + 4xTexas Instruments LME49720 dual op-amps makes this into a balanced giant-killer. Extremely open and dynamic, wery low noise. It dissapears like a good pre should do and to a price..

 I have 2 old but nice Phase Linear pre-amps. However I want a remote and the Emotiva pre-amp for $500 looks ok to me. A friend of mine has Emotiva amps and Gallo surround system in his acoustically treated room - sounds fantastic.