Looking for a preamp with XLR connections

Why limit your choices? Clearthinker is right Audio Research Ref series would probably make you forget solid state preamp.Freya plus is a good preamp especially if you upgrade the  tubes ,PM amorstereo or Teajay he knows a lot ask Him.

+1 for Cary SLP05 or Audio Research Ref.  All tube, all great, all sound a little different but over all can’t  go wrong.  Check the used market.  Sorry for stating the oblivious.  Plus if you find you’re not happy resale is great for all these preamps.

FWIW, the Benchmark preamps get excellent ASR reviews, have no tubes, have XLR inputs/outputs, and cost far less than $10K.  So they seem to match the OP's criteria well. In case you don't trust ASR, IIRC other reviews have been very positive as well.  

The Simaudio Moon 740p is worth considering. Likewise the Passlabs XP22. In  both cases however, the number of balanced inputs is limited. Both are superbly transparent, musical pre's that are feature top quality engineering and build.

Parasound JC2

$3500 new

leaves you a budget for great cables

Good luck Willy-T