Best sub 1k tube pre amp for ss amp

Look through the archives. This has been hashed and rehashed a bunch. Most will tell you CJ, ARC and I will say an Audible Illusions.

Audible Illusions do better with tube amps in my experience (owned an Mod 3 A once) Audio Research used under $750 (LS2,5,7,15 with upgraded tubes is fine). Better is a used Cary linestage. They made one at around $1200 without a remote that was dynamite! It was called something like SP50 or LS50 or similar.
Other considerations are used Sonic Frontiers L-2 if you can get under $1k. Another guy recommended looking at Audio Experience Symphonies tube line stage for $400 used price range I think? Anyway, this should get you what you need sonically. Just remember upgraded tubes often make a huge difference as well!

Dare to be your own "Budget Boss" !! Failing that, I would recommend a CJ PV-11 or CJ PV-5.

Csericks, I did that (drove S-S poweramps with a V-T preamp) very succesfully with various CJ preamps. With fono stage and for little money, my choice was a CJ PV5. It has gobs of gain (70dB), low noise, and low output impedance, something highly beneficial with low-input-impedance SS poweramps. (Seems to me the Audible Illlusions did not have cathode folowers and hence had high output impedance?)

I have a great-sounding, fully functional, highly improved PV5 available; e-mail me at [email protected] if you're at all interested.

have you considered a 2nd hand eastern electric minimax?
i've seen plenty here on audiogon. great little pre! i'm very happy with mine.