Hi @milpai
I was on the preamp trail for awhile, tried a few and lost money on some. I had a Coda preamp, not well know for pre's ,but really enjoyed it, but always wondered "why no love, there must be something better".
One pre that I heard was an SST Ambrosia, It was organic, detailed, great soundstage and loaded with features, so I have recommended it many times.... most being around $4000 used, I never wanted to spend that much, so I never considered purchasing.
I was also considering the Rowland Capri S2, I came very close to pulling the trigger. I was then able to borrow an S2, In short, I preferred my Coda, wider soundstage, more dynamic etc.
Well recently, I came across an Ambrosia in the low $3xxx. I bought and have been enjoying it for just a couple of months. This pre is a joy. A hint of warmth, detailed, wide transparent soundstage. I did snag the older version, so I now have a world class phono section as well. I the past, I had compared my Coda to a Pass X10, they were more similar than different.
I'm not sure that this helps, but it has been a real experience trying to find a better pre on a budget.
Good luck brother, Tim