Solid State Preamp to replace tube unit


I currently own a CJ tube preamp. Ive always owned tube preamps and I would like to get my first solid state preamp.I am fed up with buying expensive hard to find tubes that last 3 months or new production tubes with that not so great sound. I pine for consistency. I probably wont sell my CJ I'll just keep it. My power amps are NAD M23 for the summer and CJ Premiere 12's for the winter.

Since I dont dabble in the solid state world I am not sure what to get. I figure since this is my first SS unit 4-5k preowned??. Some brands I have considered CODA< Pass, AYRE, Classe, Bel Canto, Krell etc. Note: I have tried the Parasound and Benchmark but they didnt do it for me. I dont like anayltical sterile sound. If it is a touch warm/colored that is probably good as I am coming from a very warm CJ tube unit.

Must haves are a remote with balance control. Multiple outputs (XLR and RCA). I have an outboard phono pre. Thank you for reading and for your suggestions.

jimbones

@ Jimbones

My personal experience - I have owned and loved playing an Ayre K-5xeMP preamp for many years.  Eventually, I wanted to try a good tube preamp and bought a ARC Ref 6SE.  

A used Ayre K-5xeMP now costs 1/10th of the new ARC, but is surprisingly good for the money. It is different than the ARC, but it has the clarity, tone and voicing of a high-end preamp, but different sounding than the ARC (SS has a little faster attach and decay).

At this level, you may want to demo a few to see which provides the best sound (to your ears, that day) with YOUR other gear.  If I were buying a used SS pre, I would also look at Pass and Classe, yet knowing what I know, I expect that the Ayre outperforms, dollar-for-dollar. 

Have you tried Accuphase Pre in the use market? The sound of Accuphase is very seductive, part SS and part Tube. I think you can get a used pre around your budget. I don't have their pre but I have their amps. Both class A and AB are both espectacular when I compare them with my McIntosh MC611 and MC1502 tube. A lot of detail without being harsh or analytical. I heard their Pre are the same. 

@rubicon15 just bought some new Teslas. Lets see how they work out. In the past i used to buy from Andy at ATS and Brent Jessee. They are good but there is no guarantee you are getting new tubes and most are older used tubes. That may be why I get shortened life

@inagroove Would you still consider Classe? I heard they are out of business again. Also, I heard that the engineers that they had working just before they closed was to finish some work so I am suspicious that their efforts may not be their best.

@ jimbones

Sorry to hear of Classe's demise.  I understand they were purchased, a few years ago...  In that case, only consider them if you have access to a great repair center.  SS systems are long-haulers, but eventually they need repair.

In that vein, I had Ayre upgrade the capacitors in my amp.  They were easy to work with and did a great job.

At your price point, you will have lots of great gear to choose from, particularly used gear.  Many have Ayre and Pass trade-ins to choose from...  Some AG folks are easy to work with, as well.

Good luck!