Best Options For A Tubed Preamp - $2500 Or Less, Preferably Used To Maximize Value

😊🥵 Thank you for your kind words. Happy New Year.

Hi - I am currently selling 2 preamps on Audiogon, a Sonic Frontiers SFL-2 2 chassis preamp that was professionally upgraded by the SF designer, Chris Johnson @ Parts Connexion in Canada. This is a class A preamp and will be vastly superior to anything you can buy today for less than $10,000. I am asking $2000. The other one is a BAT VK51 se that I am asking $3250 for it. This one is balanced, so if you use RCA cables you would need XLR to RCA adapters. Enjoy the ride!

I'll second (or third?) the Conrad Johnson Suggestion.  I run solid state in a couple of systems but my primary system runs a Premier 14 preamp and a Premier 11a power amp.

Line 2CRM Line Preamplifier from Mapletree Audio - An earlier version has been in my main rig for many years while I upgraded everything else around it. Fun to tube roll to get the sound you prefer.

https://www.mapletreeaudio.com/

My tube preamp journey started with a stock PAS3, then a restored PAS3, then a VanAlstine Super PAS3, then a Conrad Johnson PV5, then an AI M3.  

I now switch between an ARC SP-10MKII and an AI M3B.  Both are sublime, and can be found within your price range.  The AI is on the neutral side of tube warmth, the ARC has more warmth, but also better definition.

Biggest changes I noticed in progression was from a restored PAS3 to the Super Pas 3, then when switching from the CJ PV5 to and AI M3 (pre "a" model).

An AI M3 or M3a are true bargains, can be found for about $1k with some patience.