Audible Illusions vs. Audio Research?

if you budget is in that same price range, pickup an Adcom GFP750 for a bargain preamp (run passive when you're not listening to rock) and active when you are.. they sell for about $700 used here. The next step would be to upgrade your CDP. Don't do buy any singlebit players.

Sand/shot fill your speaker stands, spike them if you have carpet. this will help with bass response and imaging. If you stands don't have spikes at the top, then buy some "BLUE TACK" to stick them to the stands. (this can be found at any craft store to put posters on walls without tacks or tape)

The CJ might just need tubes, but it will never be a rock and roll pre-amp.

bigtee brought up an excellent point about the AI products I owned a L1 for quite some time excellent piece without the CJ bloom , no phono but a single volume control and no remote. the 3 and 3a both have two volume knobs for each channel which provides the purest isolated circuits but sucks if you tweek volume like I do for each song. Hence a Remote is a requirement for my preamp.
The ARC LS16 that Dweller recommends would also be an excellent preamp... and if you are in that 2k price range, and want to run single ended (RCA's) then there some Placette Actives for sale right now that are unbelievable performers with pinpoint volume control. This is what I've graduated to, and would give with your rock and roll system