Preamp with Phono $3-5k range

Luxman CL-38uc A little over your budget, but maybe you can find one used or a demo.

http://www.luxman.com/product/detail.php?id=27

I prefer separates in this regard as well as tubes. There are quite a few options these days used market that should check all your boxes.  I suggest looking into Modwright and Allnic at this price point.

https://www.anthemav.com/products-current/series=str-series/model=str-pre-amplifier/page=overview

https://www.anthemav.com/downloads/str_preamplifier_datasheet.pdf

There are many unique features that you can benefit from with this preamp. With a MM & MC Phono stage that can be run in pure analog mode without any digital filtering and has fully adjustable and customizable RIAA Curves with Rumble Filter for any pre 1975 albums you may have, to full App Control if hooked to your WiFi network, truly balanced input and output stage with the ability to hook up dual subwoofers and run them in stereo or mono, and our latest Anthem Room Correction Genesis Software, you can measure your room and see exactly where the peaks and null points are allowing you to tailor the sound of your system to be as if you have tubes. Or, simply let it correct only for your room anomalies.

The flexibility with this piece is almost endless. You can also assign and label multiple “Virtual” inputs for sources to have an extremely customizable experience. Have multiple moving coil phono inputs setup with your single turntable to have your system run and play your albums any way you choose.
You also have the ability to play full high resolution with a 32 Bit 384kHz Asynchronous USB DAC built in.

Hook your cable box and Blu-ray player up digitally and enjoy your favorite TV shows and movies in an upconverted wonderful stereo experience.

It’s on sale now till May 31, 2020.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions and you can find your closest Dealer through our Locator on the website.

Thank you for your time and good luck in your search!
Chris

Balanced isn’t stepping up. Balanced is stepping sideways, at greater cost. Same goes for separates. Your budget for example will buy you a truly awesome sounding integrated with something like a Raven Nighthawk for around $3k, and another absolute giant killer phono stage in the Herron VTPH2A for about another $3k.

Seems at first glance these are over budget. But you sell your pre and power and eliminate the power cord and IC you no longer need because you no longer have separates.

These will be a monster unbelievable huge upgrade, do everything you want, and net out in budget or if you go over, well worth it as they will be the foundation of your system for years to come.

I have the Herron. The Raven is a better version of my Melody.
https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/8367#&gid=1&pid=8

Great audio is really simple....you should always sell everything you have and buy a Herron phono and Raven integrated.  Why do people make this so complicated?

What about a Mac preamp to go with your Mac tuner?

Sanders sound.

 “The preamp”

Thank you for all the responses so far. I'm not willing to move into an integrated system but thank you for the recommendation. I like to put things into lists so I'll start building a list on your recommendations. 

• Luxman CL-38uc
  
• Modwright
• Allnic
• Anthem STR
• McIntosh (but what one)
• Sanders Sound "The preamp"

Et3 Conrad johnson very nice pre amp

Supratek Cortese

https://www.sanderssoundsystems.com/products/preamplifier

 Sign up at Martin Logan or magnepan forum and get a discount from Roger Sanders.

 He is the nicest guy.
on a plus, they have a LIFETIME WARRANTY !!!

Rogue audio RH-5 is a pretty great amp for headphones but also a gorgeous preamp. They can be found used with the phone stage for around 1800-2200 pretty often. Check hifishark 

Van Alstine has 2 preamps that check off your boxes and are below your price range. Ava preamps have the Vision Q phono stage as an option. One version is solid state, the other is tube. I own the solid state version with the phono stage.  It is great. Someday, it would be nice to hear the tube unit.

mcintosh c47...about $2500 used

I never knew how good my Carver TFM-35 sounded until I got a Don Sachs tube preamp. Lots of detail and texture. They sound really good together. And you can build the Don Sachs to match the input impedance of the Carver.

I use a Project RS phone amp ($1000) with an outboard power supply I ordered from eBay ($200) to replace the Project wall wart. This phono preamp can also be ordered with a super quiet Project battery power supply (that recharges itself through a wall wart but uses battery when operating)...but it was a $700. This is a dual mono preamp so the settings are adjusted for left and right channels. It sounds pretty transparent.

Reading some good things about an new version from Cary.
I think it was about $5k.

Many good preamp ideas above.  I had a VTL 2.5i with phono to use for a while and it was fantastic...huge sound stage, smooth yet detailed.  Might be found used for under your budget.

Quick list update with recent recommendations:

• Luxman CL-38uc
  
• Modwright
• Allnic
• Anthem STR
• McIntosh (C47)
• Sanders Sound "The preamp"
• Conrad Johnson ET3
• Supratek Cortese
  
• Rogue audio RH-5
  
• Van Alstine
  
• Ava Vision Q
  
• Don Sachs with Project RS
  
• Cary
• VTL 2.5i

Keep the recommendations coming. I will definitely be busy doing my research for the next couple of weeks. 

Balanced isn’t stepping up. Balanced is stepping sideways, at greater cost. Same goes for separates.

This statement is at best misleading. If balanced is set up properly there's no going back to single-ended- lower noise, lower distortion, less cable interaction, no ground loops...

Separates can very easily outperform integrated equipment. This is not a mystery; separates have been around since the dawn of hifi. Its all about execution.

Preamps with an internal phono stage became a bit of a rarity after digital began ruling the audio world. So a preamp 'evolved' into a line stage. One nice exception to this high end audio rule was the Boulder 1010, released around 2001. It's also fully balanced, which apparently you're interested in.

This model had a very long production run and was replaced a few years ago by the 1110. The price of the new model has gone way up as is the current trend in high end, but it is now 'sans' phono stage. Boulder has never been exactly cheap, but used samples of the 1010 do appear on the market from time to time at prices around your $5k max. Its phono stage is excellent, although the gain of the MC stage at 60dB rules out the use of very low output MC's. In that case you should consider a dedicated low impedance step up transformer on its MM position. 

There is a used McIntosh C22 (reissue) listed on Agon which has an ungodly good phono stage in it.  I think it is listed for $4600 without the original box.  I am not saying that is the price you should pay but it would be an obvious choice and is clearly in your price range. 

I don't know the person who has it listed and know nothing about them.  Just that this is an awesome preamp for the money. 

Check the Ayre p5xe, I'm enjoying it with my Soundsmith cartridge and Pass equipment. It's in your price range and shows up used from time to time.

Well after a few days researching, several emails with different reps and manufacturers, and some phone chats, I’ve decided on a new Modwright LS 100 with Phono stage option. There were several good options that you all recommended I just couldn’t get the LS 100 out of my head. It’s funny because a few years ago I almost bought a used one here on Audiogon and now I’m making the move. I’m looking forward to making my first step into tube technology as well as my first line stage preamp. From some of the articles I read I have a feeling I might be keeping this one for awhile. I’ll be sure to update everyone when I take delivery and get everything dialed in. 
Thank again. 

I'll second the Luxman CL38U C. I've had the SE version for over 2 years. Best tube preamp I've ever owned. Previously I had the CJ ET3 SE after hearing the Luxman in my system I immediately sold the CJ. It's very easy on the tubes. The unit is as quiet today as it was over 2 years ago.

I also highly recommend the Luxman CL38u - I have both the standard and SE versions, and can’t say enough of the clarity and low noise floor. If the EQ option turns you off, simply bypass it (it’s still there if and when you need it, but not in the signal path). Outstanding phono stage as well, for both MM and MC....

if you can pick up a ML326s for 4k or so you’ll be in the big leagues. a wonderful preamp built to last. you would want the model with the green boards. i’ve had many top preamps and wish i had one still. it was/is quite  special. IMHO

I am a new Supratek Cortese owner for a month. I am in this hobby for more than 35 yrs and used many good preamps such as AR, CJ and most recently a very reputable German brand line stage and a phono separate. The Supratek with the stock tubes sounded really good. However, once replaced with good NOS tubes (6SN7, 6922 and E180F), it sounds simply amazing. Total cost of the Cortese and new tubes is within your budget. Only drawback is a long waiting (~3 months) of your order.