Many of the great tube component manufacturers produce entry level preamps that share some of the same components and design ideas that their higher priced preamps have. Entry level preamps from high end manufacturers may be the best bang for your buck value in High End Audio. Some suggestions in your price range would be a BAT VK3i(in my opinion you cannot go wrong with a BAT tube preamp), various Audio Research preamps (another no-brainer, and various Conrad-Johnson preamps (another no-brainer).
That being said, Audible Illusions 3A preamps which have always been considered amazing values are, for some reason, extremely inexpensive on the used audio market. If you can pick one up for under $1000 and then do some tube rolling to suit your musical taste, mine runs toward warm sounding tubes, then your cousin will only have good things to say about you during family reunions.
Regards,
Drew
That being said, Audible Illusions 3A preamps which have always been considered amazing values are, for some reason, extremely inexpensive on the used audio market. If you can pick one up for under $1000 and then do some tube rolling to suit your musical taste, mine runs toward warm sounding tubes, then your cousin will only have good things to say about you during family reunions.
Regards,
Drew