Considering moving to separates with a tube preamp-appreciate recommendations

@soix Thank you for asking. I'd like to experience what I can practically afford in terms of a wider and deeper sound stage, more of the holographic sound experience some reviewers describe. I'm not sure I hear that now.

I have learned that I prefer slightly warmer than neutral tonality and honestly just want to hear what a tube preamp brings to the experience.

Unfortunately like many people, auditioning gear is not easy in my area. I tend to buy and sell gear here online in order to learn what I like and don't like.

Based on reviews I tried a class D integrated, the Marantz PM KI Ruby, and it was very clean and articulate, but not as emotionally engaging for me as I'd like.

Then I went a totally different direction and tried the Yamaha A-S2200 integrated and found that I really liked it's sound signature, it was warm and exciting to my ear, but I felt I needed a bit more power for the Dynaudio speakers. The Yamaha would get a bit grainy at times to my ear.

The Hegel H390 is the answer for me to the perceived power need, and I think it is filling it well. It does not seem to have any issue driving the Dynaudio speakers with it's 490 watts into 4ohms and incredibly high damping factor. It is very smooth and articulate and provides good instrument separation, but I feel I took a step backwards in terms of sound stage as compared to the Yamaha.

The fun part of this hobby for me is hearing music in a way that I did not before. Trying something new to learn if there is something else in the mix that I missed up until now. Each change in gear has provided a new opportunity to learn. I think I'm ready now to learn what tube gear brings to the party.

I just today hooked up my PS Audio BHK pre-amp, used $3500, to new to me PS Audio M1200 mono blocks, used $3200. 

They sound really good. Lots of depth. Big sound stage.  I put in NOS  1958 Telefunken tubes in the amps & pre so after burn in it should just get better. 

Wait for a bit to stretch a bit your budget and treat yourself with an EAR 912in the used market that you see on sale for 4500/5000$. It’s an end-game type of preamp.

But to be frank, the types of improvements (depth, soundstage, fluidity) you are looking for are not usually linked to an upgrade on the preamp. Also if you would like a warmer presentation, the speakers might be the obvious issue. I don’t know the Evoke range but if what I noticed when listening to the Contour and Confidence range is true the Dynaudios are more of a V-shaped sound signature. The Hegel 390 is on the warmish side of neutral, another pair of speakers might be what you are really looking for.

If I was you I’d strongly consider pairing the Atmasphere MP3 Mklll tube preamp with their relatively new GaN mono amps.  They’re both available new within your price range, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Ralph @atmasphere could arrange an in-home trial.  You could also look at the AGD Tempo Di GaN stereo amp that’s also in your price range, and I believe both amps are upgradeable for future tech innovations, which is really nice (I know AGD is but maybe Ralph can confirm his amps are too).  Don’t dismiss these new GaN amps as they’re getting lots of feedback as being end-game amps without the hassle of tubes.  Best of luck. 

Bel Canto rarely gets any mention here so I’ll weigh in. I’m running Bel Canto REF 600 monoblocks with Bel Canto E.One Streamer and 2.7 DAC. I stuck a little Schitt Saga + tube pre in the middle of all this (primarily for volume control) where I had been using the DAC as a pre. It works! With Harbeth C7’s. This is my every day system and I’ve had many variations of McIntosh, Sugden, Luxman in this chain and I like this setup the best by far.