suggestions for pre amp for Quikie v4 monos

I assume your V-4's are the single ended version. If so,
the Shindo Monbrison may be worth consideration. Of Course you would be looking used, to stay at your budgeted 5K. My guess is out of the two excellent (the warm) suggestions by Samhar, you won't get hurt w/ the CJ 16LS. I had the Mk. 1, and it is a great preamp. It would be my personal preference to stay warm with the 5A's. Are you looking for a Full-feature preamp, or a separate line/phono stage.

I assume full feature. Is there an advantage to separates? THANKS FOR THE RESPONSES!

Yes! Your TT taste and equipment may change so a separate phono section provides flexibility without having to sell preamp. Because you asked about the Calypso (LS) I assumed you had a phono stage. You can find used Ear 834P's for $800-1100 this is an excellent phono at the price and later to upgrade if you want move up to an Ear 88PB ( I'm looking at this model).

My advice is to go with the Aesthetix Calypso run balanced all through and flip your V4s into true balanced and Get a pair of XLR Vandersteen 5 High pass and set them at 200K with the Quicksilver amps. Samar mentioned in an e mail to me when he owned the pairing he was running v4s and Calypso ((RCA)) which is going through 2 phase inverters which is just ho hum ok. Driving the system XLR true balanced gets rid of one extra Phase inverter and makes for way better performance and puts the V4s Calypso and system in another league.
Cheers Johnnyr

Or you can buy a S/E preamp and not have the problems.