Tube Pre-amp Suggestions.

Backert, hands down!

@kds I am very happy with my Coda ss amp & Herron Audio tube preamp combo.

There is currently only one listing for a used Herron Audio preamp. It is the VTPS - 360 model, and it is listed on that "other site" (USAM) for $3500, which is a little over your budget. The two prior models (VTSP - 3 & VTSP - 2) will usually sell within your budget

Used Herron's don't appear very often; and, they typically sell fast (for good reasons), so both patience and quick actions are usually required to snag one of them. The VTSP 360 has been listed for 44 days; so, that suggests the seller has probably over-priced it a bit. Perhaps he'll take $3K, assuming this model fits your needs and criteria.

I suggest you research some professional reviews of it, along with some of the Audiogon forum discussions re Herron Audio.   

Schiit Freya + preamps are rated "Class A" by Stereophile and seem to suffer from being too inexpensive...amazingly. I've been enjoying the original version for years, use NOS GE 6SN7GTB tubes, and have yet to see any other preamp with the flexibility or useful features of the Freya. Plus it sounds amazingly good with either my SE tube amp or my Pass XA-25.

@wolf_garcia what power amp and speakers are you running Wolf?

@kds Using ARC Ref5SE and before that had an Aric Audio Motherlode for a brief run.

I have also thought about going back to Class D amps and just considering PS Audio 1200's. For fun. I'd probably get new speakers before giving up the Coda. The ARC is here to stay but Backert is always an option to consider as a musical preamp.