Need help with preamp purchase

I highly recommend the Ayre K-1XE.
It has 3 balanced and 3 single ended inputs.
It has an optional remote.
(Note the remote only controls volume and mute, but that works fine for me.)
It has optional phono boards that are very, very good.
Check the reviews and you will find it is an excellent choice.

New the price exceeds your price range, but used, it comes in a bit below. (I believe Jtinn has a fully loaded K-1XE, with remote and phono boards for sale for $4,900.)

Good Luck in your search.

Chadaudio816, I would recommend you put on your audition list the Placette dual active line stage. It retails for $4500.00, but you can ask Guy Hammel, designer/owner of Placette, to build you one with balanced connections for a slight increase in price. My Placette replaced a ML-32 reference which cost $10000.00 more. I had auditioned over six pre-amps before I decided on the Placette and find it to be a wonderful linestage that brought my whole system to another sonic level of enjoyment.

B/c of the low input impendance of the ICE modules, there may be compatability issues w/ a passive preamp.

The H20 won't work well with a passive preamp. Why don't you buy the "Fire preamp" from Henry the designer of the H20 amps?

Dave

Any of the Blue Circle BC3 model preamps can be made fully balanced with remote controls. This includes the BC3 Despina, BC3 Galatea, and BC3000 (all new Mk2 versions).

The BC103 is a solid state preamp is also fully balanced and can be made with remote volume controls.

The BC3's are tube which you've said you don't want. Can I ask why? BC tube preamps are pretty much maintenance free. New tubes once every 3 to 5 years and not harder than changing a light bulb. $60 to $100 each time, assuming you keep it that long.

I am an authorized Blue Circle dealer. Contact me if you like for more information.