Budget preamp recommendation...besides Schiit.

Quicksilver line stage, or a Conrad Johnson PV10.

I have had the following sort of affordable preamps in the last 3 years:

- Schitt Freya+

- Topping pre90

- Benchmark LA4/HPA4

- Holo Serene

The Benchmark and Holo are better than anything at any price from my perspective of how a preamp should work. That is no noise on the speakers, no addition to the sound so all  you hear is the other gear, and a great volume control.

I am going to sell my LA4 because I want to get the HPA4 (again). I now have a way to use the headphone amp of the HPA4 with my RAAL phones. I could not before.

Parasound P-6 or Z-Pre 3

Depending on what you consider budget, the LTA MicroZOTL MZ2 is an amazing bargain.

Rogue RP1 is very good. Build quality, sound, responds extremely well to tube rolling and cable changes. As an added bonus, it sports a very good Phono stage.