I'd try out a Bent Audio transformer volume control. These overcome the typical problems like flatness, and other things that commonly occur with passive preamps of the resistive type like Placette. The transformer control provides a much better impedance match between the components, and also allows more length of cables between the components, because of the improved impedance matching characteristics.
Silver Rock also makes a nice transformer passive volume control, but it is much more expensive than your budget. The Bent Audio unit will fit under your $1k figure. You can select the number of inputs/outputs, and use RCA or XLR connections.
Silver Rock also makes a nice transformer passive volume control, but it is much more expensive than your budget. The Bent Audio unit will fit under your $1k figure. You can select the number of inputs/outputs, and use RCA or XLR connections.