gopaljeen
$7K to $8K will buy a brilliant preamp, and some of these are as good as you will find anywhere. They are definitely "different from the herd", stunningly hand built point to point wired, and use the highest quality components available. They are built by passionate and exacting designers, and are works of art.
Aric Audio Motherlode XL if you need XLR or Motherlode II if not. Don Sachs/Lynn Olson designed Raven preamp (sold through Spatial Audio). Supratek Cabernet 6SN7 or Grange.....all can be purchased for $6,500 or less.
For transparency, I own the Aric Audio Motherlode XL.....and it is extraordinary with both tube and solid state amps.