@ihcho you could do a lot worse than your AI M3B with a lessor preamp.You have a decent unit now. Echoing @soix ’ fundamental questions about what you are trying to accomplish -or- just to satisfy curiosity itch - do share more.
A friend had a preamp like yours, IIRC some of the later AI units were designed to be used with some of the higher gain Russian 6922s although people do try others.
Have you already checked and tried really good 6DJ8 / 6922 dual triode tubes in your unit? What’s in there now?