I'd stretch a couple of hundred and find a VTL 5.5. This is a top tier preamp. Whatever preamp you buy it is always not a bad idea to run the serial number through the MFR to find out its history. VTL can give you this info on the phone for most of their products. Some of their early stuff was prePC and not in their database. Both the 2.5 and 5.5 will be.
I would suggest you avoid tubed preamps with a lot of tubes in them as they can get Very Expensive to upgrade/replace when required.
I would suggest you avoid tubed preamps with a lot of tubes in them as they can get Very Expensive to upgrade/replace when required.