First tube preamp recommendations (under $5k)

Audio Research Ls28se. Very dynamic and great sound. Easy to use and plenty of balanced and single ended connections. 

@knighttodd. 
+1

Either the most expensive Vincent Audio “Pho” or a Pro-Ject Tube Box. I’ve owned both; think they are more or less equivalent in sound. 

Simple - buy a used Counterpoint preamp just not the slim line SA-3 or SA-5.  All you need is a SA1000,  Send it to me for modifications - AC filter choke, Audio Note non-magnetic resistors - Amtrans resistors, Nichicon capacitors - maybe Audio Note capacitors - V-Caps, upgrade the volume control.  Now you don't have to spend $5K or more.  Just peak inside any of the recommendations above.  See if anyone of those preamps have any of these parts inside!  Short answer - not one of them.  Why spend $5K on a preamp that uses below average parts.  If you want I will even remove the Counterpoint guts and build you a point-to-point wired version which will just blow your mind.

Happy Listening.  

A winning circuit design will sound better with cheap parts than a average circuit design with top notch parts.