Budget preamp recommendation...besides Schiit.

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. 

Dont hate on it but Emotiva XSP-1 Gen 2, excellent fully differential balanced 2 channel pre-amp, read the reviews, if you can find one, it seriously replaced my Krell KAV 250p, and no it is not a home theatre preamp, the soundstage actually blew me and a couple of listening buddies away, we went into it thinking how everyone else thinks about Emotiva equipment, but the proof was in the puddin as they say✌️🎶, excellent mc/mm phono stage also.