You have the advantage of waiting for a good price on a used item. Tube units give you the option of trying various tubes to tweak the brightness you are sensitive to.
I've owned a lot of equipment over the past 50 years, I could not be happier with my 'new to me' McIntosh mx110z tube tuner/preamp. (you don't get remote features, I get remote volume from my integrated amp when I want it).
manual for features/specs
http://thetubestore.com/lib/thetubestore/schematics/McIntosh/McIntosh-MX110-Z-Series-Owner-Manual.pdf
This is double your budget, but fully restored. Perhaps you could sell more existing stuff, cameras, 1st born, ...
https://www.ebay.com/itm/McIntosh-MX110z-tube-preamp-tuner/264409660162?hash=item3d900b3b02:g:AHYAAOSwoRFdOiW6
It's phono eq is excellent.
I have dedicated FM antenna, pointed at Newark for WBGO Jazz, the FM is as good as they say it is.
I've owned a lot of equipment over the past 50 years, I could not be happier with my 'new to me' McIntosh mx110z tube tuner/preamp. (you don't get remote features, I get remote volume from my integrated amp when I want it).
manual for features/specs
http://thetubestore.com/lib/thetubestore/schematics/McIntosh/McIntosh-MX110-Z-Series-Owner-Manual.pdf
This is double your budget, but fully restored. Perhaps you could sell more existing stuff, cameras, 1st born, ...
https://www.ebay.com/itm/McIntosh-MX110z-tube-preamp-tuner/264409660162?hash=item3d900b3b02:g:AHYAAOSwoRFdOiW6
It's phono eq is excellent.
I have dedicated FM antenna, pointed at Newark for WBGO Jazz, the FM is as good as they say it is.