transistor pre with the sound of tubes

A low cost option is to buy a Yaqin SD-CD3 tube buffer for a couple hundred bucks and try it to see if you like what it does. I've got mine hooked up between one of my CD players and the preamp. You can also insert it into the tape loop if you have one. I can tell you from my experience the difference it makes is pretty subtle.

Toss in my vote for Schiit Freya +. Has three setting to choose from. Straight through, JFET buffer (not sure what this is technology wise), and a tube stage. Volume is a 128-step relay-switched stepped attenuator with remote. I have this and have had fun with tube rolling. Right now have sylvannia bad boys in gain stage and stock tungsols in the input stage. Great 3d wide soundstage tight bass. Would love to find some nos telafunken’s that are not 500 per tube but the search is part of the game that this hobby’s quest is. Like crossing the bridge of death in the search for the Holy grail!

^
Haha, that's a good metaphor!

I've got tube gear, so you definitely do not have to be mature! 

all kidding aside

i agree w others whom have suggested the schiit freya as a good first entry point for a tubey noobey to get a sense of what tubes can do... without breaking the bank... and easy to flip at minimal loss if unimpressed