Tube base preamp suggestions

See the Blue Circle preamps.

Might as well toss Conrad-johnson and ARC into the ring.

If you can buy used (I almost always do), than these weill be in your price range:

Hovland HP-100 (Great phono stage, slightly weak LF response- no remote)

CAT Ultimate (Very good phono stage - no remote)

ARC LS-25, Mk II (No phono stage - with remote and balanced inputs and outputs)

There are other really good tube preamps out there, however, some of them are out of production, and you take a slight risk that parts and repair services will be impaired or more expensive. (i.e. Sonic Frontiers, ARC LS-5, etc..)

My two cents worth. Good Luck in your search.

I have got to suggest the Audible Illusions L-2. It is one great sounding preamp. The circuit is so simple. No excess baggage. It does have home theater pass thru and AI is working on a phono board for it as I write this. Should be available soon.
I have compared it to numerous preamps in my on system. It is very, very neutral for a tube based preamp. It also covers the frequency extremes well. Sounstaging, imaging, etc. are as good as I have heard. Dynamics are rendered realistically. It is also extremely quiet and well built.
If you get a chance to demo one do so and don't be afraid to compare it to any preamp at any price. At $2495, you might just save yourself a few bucks.

Best tube preamps I have heard are the First Sound over the CJs and Hovland and the Joule Electra LA-150 over the Lamm LL2 Deluxe. Never got to hear the Joule and the FS in the same system.

Happy Listening.