Looking for a new phono preamp

Herron, all the way. The VTPH2A is so good, for the money, it must be recommended to anyone with anywhere near the budget. It just seems you have to spend an awful lot more to be even a little better.

Yes it uses a FET, so not an all-tube design. But it does not sound SS, nor does it sound exactly tubey. It just sounds great. Keith runs his tubes conservatively and uses warm-up circuits, a combination that results in very long tube life. 

You can call and ask, he will know. When it comes to tubes there are three kinds of people. Those who replace them way more than need be, those who don't, and those who worry. Tubes last so long, look at it this way, my ARC PH3SE was used 15 years and sold with original tubes. So tube life is not a factor. Either you replace more often, or you worry. Never seems to be anything anyone can do to change this, it's genetic or something. Saves a lot of time and trouble if you can figure out which one you are.

Ear 868, or Ear 912: one of the best I heared ! Very natural, and open sound . Metronome Technologie: what a sound!

You can’t go wrong with the giant killing Channel Islands Audio PEQ-1 MKII ($995); but you really need to add the optional power supply upgrade for another $299. Audiophile friends whose ears I trust like it better than the Parasound JC3+ that gets all of the raves. I don’t know how it compares with the new kid on the block PS Audio Stellar piece. All I know is that after over 40 years of being in this hobby and now having a revealing, world-class system, the CIA unit fits in fine and makes beautiful music. BTW, it’s among the 800+ products in the March TAS Editors’ Choice Awards.

Thanks to everyone for the advice.  I have looked into most of the suggestions that fell near my budget limit.  

But...

I have located and arranged for the purchase of a preowned Herron VTPH-2A so close to my budget that I could not pass it up.  It was purchased new in 2018 and I am purchasing it from the original owner.

I am looking forward to adding it to my system.

Thanks again!

Lmao, OP: "I must have 3 things: 1) SS phono, 2) it must be new, 3) I have a hard limit of $2.5k" and ends up with a tube phono, used, over budget.