Preamp suggestions, yes again

I really love my Don Sachs Model 2.  Seems like every year he improves on the design in some small way...very smooth and revealing...and made to order.

Want to tailor for your current amp's input sensitivity and one for your next amp? No problem.  One for most SS amps and one for tube amps...just ask.  

Component matching is important...and you can build in the flexibility.  Just talk to him and he will build to your needs.

The only help I can give you is to report on my Odyssey power amp. I am 3d owner of what I think is Klaus’s biggest single amp about 20 years ago: Stratos Dual-Mono. One cabinet with 2 big toroidals and even 2 IEC 15’s for separate power cables. It’s an 85lb monster and a terrific sounding amp.(180 into 8ohms). They’re still hand assembled in Indianapolis and have a great warranty. I leave this old guy running nite and day and it never spits.
When I first hooked the Odyssey up, there was a ground problem but all I had to do was tighten the gold RCA input connector.
There are no mistakes in your candidates. Enjoy.

The Don Sachs preamp is a good suggestion, but over your budget. Don used to own a space tech labs preamp and he liked a lot, space tech labs has lots of models of preamps that are built to order. 

The Don Sachs preamp is just the VTA SP14 built on a custom chassis.  The SP14, with a remote, is available in kit form for $1390 and fully assembled & tested for $1790.  The kit is no more difficult to build than any Dynaco piece and comes with excellent instructions.  If you can solder, you can build this preamp.  You get to save $400 AND come away with enormous satisfaction.

I recently borrowed some audio equipment from a friend.  The Shiit Saga + II and the Bifrost DAC.  Playing off an Innuos mini mk 3.  This is going to be difficult to beat for the price!  The voices became buttery smooth, more clear and detailed as I could want. Increased detail I never heard before. Symbols decay and ring. You hear the tip of the drum stick it is amazing.  Bass is clear and solid. I would keep them because I think he wants to sell them. I am older and want more controls on a remote and preamp than what Shiit offers. If I were younger I would not mind a basic setup.  I also want tone controls for older less quality recorded music.