Tube Preamps.....

+1 @whitestix on the Sachs pre.  He also offers a short in-home trial, which is a real plus, and the fact that this would be new rather than used is also kinda nice.  At your price you could do lots of Don's upgrades to create a really nice pre. 

On the used side, there's a nice Backert Rhumba 1.2 listed at $2400.  But if you can stretch your budget just a bit there's an Allnic L3000 mkii reduced to $3700 that looks like a great buy as its listed retail is $13,000 (there are nice reviews of the original model from Audio Beat and Dagogo comparing it to other nice preamps).  I have to say if I'm you I'd have a tough time passing this one up as it seems like a truly top-level and potentially end-game component -- if there is such a thing.  Best of luck. 

Joe pepperoni pizza is more of an American thing. :)

The Schiit Freya is maybe a giant killer of a tube preamp, and it's so cheap you could add an astonishingly great DAC and stay in that budget.

Another vote for the Freya. At least give it a try. For $700 bucks with a 15 day return less 5% restocking fee (and shipping) you will risk little.   It’s a very flexible, balanced design with (tiny) remote, several output modes (one of which is 6SN7 tube-based) and numerous inputs. Also has a very very good volume control and 5 year warranty.
I know...it doesn't cost enough so it must be junk. Why not let your ears decide?  

You could do Freya + Gungnir MB or even the Yggdrasil DAC at your (stretch) budget. Lots more info over on HeadFi (Freya impressions and tube rolling thread). Good luck.

http://www.schiit.com/products/freya

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/schiit-freya-impressions-and-tube-rolling-thread.832177/