Preamp $600-$1000

You're going to get plenty of suggestions. I made the same transition from a solid state preamp to a tubed unit and it definitely was the right move. I went with a VTL 2.5 and it paid off as I wanted.
More midrange magic and warmth with out sacrificing detail and resolution. But I don't know what other tubed preamps may have sounded like and I may have gotten the same or better results with another tubed preamp. Or it could have been worse. I don't know and would like to experience others just for the curiousity. I think the answer is to experiment and have fun.

Sonic Frontier Line 1. No contest. Between $ 875.00 and $ 1,000.00. Incredible build quality for the price, a remote ''puck'' that is a work of art, built-in Headroom headphone amp circuit, reversible polarity switch on the remote, programmable input levels - dimming display function, and there's more for you to find out. For me, this preamp has always been THE no-brainer in that price category. And if you don't like it, you will probably get all of your money back. What's not to like here? Good luck. Oh, and by the way, it SOUNDS real nice too.

Oh oh, I see another one coming. The sickness spreads.

bat 3vki..goes for $750-$1300 depending on age and options... incedible sound, build quality, and reliable...