Budget preamp recommendation...besides Schiit.

Audio-GD is noted for the value in their pre-amps...I have one....They sound like pre's that are TWICE the cost. Call Wally.

Topping Pre90  - very clean and balanced or single ended options with stepped relay volume control.

Lot's of good ideas, many more expensive than the Schiit $300-850 price range.

I'll look preowned and see what hits a cord with me.

Thanks again and good day.

Mike

Try to find a used Herron preamp.  Failing that, an ARC SP-6b.  The SP-6b is NOT in the same league as the Herron preamps, but it does have a nice phono stage.

Also consider the SPL Phonitor 2. 

I currently have a Parasound P5 preamp for sale here. It's in Mint condition and I'm open to offers. See if it fits your needs. 

Aric is a great choice as is AVA. 

Consider Icon Audio out of UK. Their No. Am. Distributor in Canada in excellent. 

Aric Audio makes a budget tube preamp. ~$1700 I believe.

Oh yeah, budget: stretch it,

consider extra cost divided by many years, not much really, just gotta get the dough now: so sell something, give up doing stuff, go out to eat less, buy less content for a while, tell the wife NO MORE SHOES (just for a year)

It would help you narrow the choices if you first clarify features:

a. definite;

b. desired, not absolute

It's hard to keep the list short, but, for low cost ......

My suspicion is that used could match a new budget price and be 'better' and include more ......

Used, with remote volume control is a short list, and many sellers forget to mention the remote, so if interested, do a quick check elsewhere for manual/feature info.

If you are interested in a kit, the Akitika PR102 is both transparent and well featured with modular options to include headphone and phono, with or without motorized remote control. Price is very reasonable for the performance.  This is really the only true “budget” alternative to Schiit.  Well under a grand. 

Van Alstine!

https://avahifi.com/collections/preamplifiers

I second Quicksilver or Conrad Johnson .   CJs are tough to find at a reasonable price though.     

The preamp is the most important component in your system, choose carefully 

What’s wrong with Schiit? I have found that the Freya+ is quite responsive to different tubes, thus giving the ability to tailor the sound effectively.

Khozmo passives or Hattor passive/active, both made with high quality attenuators and parts plus huge selection of options between the two "sister" companies (i.e., same owner/manufacturer - Hattor is to Khozmo what Lincoln is to Ford).

Nelson Pass Nutube Korg B1.

Such a lot on offer for such a little outlay.

Townshend Allegri+
I got one new directly from Townshend for cheaper than advertised. 
 

I concur with all the reviews already written about this preamp. 
 

https://the-ear.net/review-hardware/townshend-allegri-passive-preamplifier/
 

https://www.theaudiophileworld.net/2018/05/the-townshend-allegri-real-world-review.html?m=1
 

https://www.hifipig.com/townshend-allegri-passive-preamplifier/

Dont hate on it but Emotiva XSP-1 Gen 2, excellent fully differential balanced 2 channel pre-amp, read the reviews, if you can find one, it seriously replaced my Krell KAV 250p, and no it is not a home theatre preamp, the soundstage actually blew me and a couple of listening buddies away, we went into it thinking how everyone else thinks about Emotiva equipment, but the proof was in the puddin as they say✌️🎶, excellent mc/mm phono stage also.

Rogue RP1 is very good. Build quality, sound, responds extremely well to tube rolling and cable changes. As an added bonus, it sports a very good Phono stage. 

Depending on what you consider budget, the LTA MicroZOTL MZ2 is an amazing bargain.

Parasound P-6 or Z-Pre 3

I have had the following sort of affordable preamps in the last 3 years:

- Schitt Freya+

- Topping pre90

- Benchmark LA4/HPA4

- Holo Serene

The Benchmark and Holo are better than anything at any price from my perspective of how a preamp should work. That is no noise on the speakers, no addition to the sound so all  you hear is the other gear, and a great volume control.

I am going to sell my LA4 because I want to get the HPA4 (again). I now have a way to use the headphone amp of the HPA4 with my RAAL phones. I could not before.

Quicksilver line stage, or a Conrad Johnson PV10.