tube preamps

Look into or try to demo Rogue Magnum series or Conrad Johnson.
I've heard the Rogue and it was nice...
Don't know if Conrad has remote???The Rogue does.

Rouge 99 is great! I found it does exactly what you want with my neutral Bryston & Maggies. Not much smaller than an ARC, but not as neutral. Quicksilver makes a tube remote line stage, but I've not heard it. It is smaller and less expensive.

c-j Premiere 14. There's an auction for one right now, they typically go gor about 2K and are remote controlled and fairly compact in terms of height.

Sonic Frontiers preamps are a good value ...great parts & build quality.......would probably tame your harshness a bit, and hey, they have sounded great in my rig, I went from a Line 3 to a 3SE. I used to have a levinson amp, but now have BAT 150SE's. A Line 2SE or Line 3, or even a Line 3SE all are in your budget......and the disc shaped remote is very nice! They are often seen on Agon.... There ARE warmer tube preamps than the SF though.