You may want to check out a used Dehavilland Ultraverve, or new. Hand-wired, simple, 6sn7 based. See Dehavilland Electric Amplifier website. I bought a used one here on Agon and love it in my system. Easy to tweak the sound since there is only one 6sn7. I quickly sold my previous tube preamp.
Help selecting a new preamp
I want to replace my Outlaw Audio 976 preamp with a stereo only preamp, no tuner. Sources will be an OPPO 103, a Shiit D/A from my mac mini room server and a Teac 2300 r to r Power amp is a Carver Crimson 275... speakers are Goldenear Triton 2+......max 5k budget. Any help is greatly appreciated. Phono input OK but not a necessity...THANKS