Need advice on a tube line stage

Your list is a good one overall IMHO. I'm about to sell my full service Quick pre (have a strong potential buyer at least) and I've loved it. IMO, it actually betters the new remote one if it's in good shape still. I may look for one of those used on the site as they are less than the new one. Have you heard the AI yet? If not, you need to. Forget reviews and just put it in the system and listen. The thing with tubed preamps is that many of them dont' match well with your SS amp. You really need to listen to them together to see if they can match. I've seen too many folks get a great pre and a great amp, but they don't match at all. You probably already know that, but some folks don't, so I thought I'd throw that out there.

Personally I'd just stay away from the Chinese made ones. There are so many great choices.

For me there are so many tube options out there and you really do need to hear them in person. You can change the sound of nearly any tube pre by rolling tubes and drive yourself crazy. I've been a tube guy for years until I switched to Ayre, which I've found is as tube sounding as you get in SS gear. I personally like the Ayre better than the tubes. I have owned CJ, AR, AI and Quicksilver. Loved them all for various reasons and I traded up each time. I just got burned out changing tubes etc..., but that's me.

I've heard one Mod Wright upgrade and it made a huge difference, so I bet their pre is wonderful. I've liked Rogue, Quick and AI for the price, but overall it's so hard to beat AR gear. It's just built like a tank and they stand behind their gear. Most of the AR guys I know don't bother rolling tubes. The factory does a great job at sourcing the proper tubes to begin with.

I guess I'd start out at AR and go from there if I were to get back into tubes. Too bad Aesthetix gear isn't in your price range as their stuff sounds AWESOME.......I guess I'd have to audition AR and Aesthetix gear first.. YEs, that's my start, lol. Great luck