Which pre/pro under 3k?

Just to kinda resonate with some of the inferences here - recommending the 2ch analog preamp avenue - I remember going to quite a few sales training and "demo" seminars of both main stream AVRs and even small company esoteric electronics (Separates AV pre/processor makers) companies, over the years of being in the business...and I remember, on more than a few occasions, saying to myself, "MY LITTLE PASSIVE 2ch VOLUME CONTROL POTS IN A METAL BOX SOUNDS BETTER THAN ALL THE R&D AND EFFORT THEY ENDED UP GETTING OUT OF THIS $3-4k FLAG-SHIP RECEIVER OR PROCESSOR THEY'RE PLAYING FOR ME!!!" -NO KIDDING!!! ..it's what it is!
Lol. Just saying...they got compromises to make all that digital and critical analog parts in the same chasis!
Still, it is amazing what they've done for so cheap over the years...price wise....bang-fer-the-buck-wise

Avgoround's passive box is why I suggest if OP's source is an Oppo BDP-105 he skip the processor and preamp and connect the Oppo directly to the amp. What's a preamp going to do for the analog stereo output of the Oppo? At most it could color it in some way that might be pleasing to the listener. If there are other analog stereo sources, that suggests a preamp for switching among them.

db

Of course, there are no free lunches...and, in a perfect world, there would be no need for preamps, all together, perhaps!???
I know this is thread about "which pre/pro...", so pardon the blip in the thread. ..But I find the problem with the only passive route ,for 2 ch, (believe me, I've tried it MANY a time, either direct out of a dvd or cd analog-out source with integrated internal volume and passive pre both) is you often lose on the dynamics and presence side of things! In this case, you're relying strictly on the ananlog output devices and buffer stages, etc, to give you your "gain" - which an active preamp most always does better, in my experience. And, while the passive route is sometimes a great choice, depending, perhaps, on system matching - or even the types of source material one finds themselves using - there are simply too many attractively priced used quality preamps out there on the market (tube or solid state0, that offer the slam and dynamics that a good active pre can offer, while still offering that very clear, detailed, large soundstaging neutral kinda sound which audiophiles crave! In fact, the very very best are about at transparent sounding as any passive setup!
Again..sorry about the diversion here on the thread..although we are considering the 2 ch side of things for your music duties, yes??? Otherwise..My bad!. hehehe..

I've had many free lunches.

I sold Marantz for a long time. And tested many as well. It is still a 2 dimensional brand. Bel Canto and Oppo both can give depth. You would be a fool to buy a 2 dimensional pre amp. The Onkyo 5509 and Integra 80.3 both can give a wide and deep stage. But they also both give a much better individual physical image compared to Marantz.

When I sold Monitor Audio speakers, it is quite easy to outperform a Marantz amp. The Onkyo/Integra will win wiht a much more 3 dimensional image.

Comparing makes audio a lot more easy to understand!!

They both are prepared for Audyssey pro. They both can give an even higher endresult.