Recommend The Best No Frills Preamp up to $5K.

I've got a Rogue RP-7 I'm not using. It's a great no frills tube pre. 

There's a few things I read and tried out which may help your query of the "best no frills preamp"
 

1. Townshend Allegri or Allegri+ - totally passive preamps so there is no coloration and no power required (meaning no need to have a power conditioner for this one). The Allegri has a power plug for the display but the Allegri+ has no display. An argument can be made that the purest signal you can get is from a passive preamp with no active electronics coloring the sound in any way. That being said, when my Allegri+ suddenly failed I sent it back to Townshend for warranty and it never got sent back. Customer service is useless with them and I got my money taken away.

2. Valvet Soulshine (used) - I got one and it also excels at getting out of the way and adding no color to the music. However, I don't see any on the used market right now and brand new it's out of your price range.

3. Audio Mirror Linea Preamp - Never tried this one but I have his DAC and it is exceptional. I'm intending to get the higher model WAVE preamp. Reviews are generally favorable on audiogon (search for "audio mirror preamplifier" in the forums). This is within your price range. Vlad's customer service is excellent and he has a lifetime guarantee on all his products.

Hope this helps.

I've been Very Happy with the Audible Illusions Modulus 3b. Well within your budget if you can find a used one.

Keith Herron’s stuff is my go-to, whether line or phono

My friend wrote Kara at deHavilland, and she built him a Preamp, all he had to do was agree to wait as it took a long time for her to get the transformers she wanted to use.

http://www.dehavillandhifi.com/Products%20Page.htm

He brought it here, it sounded excellent.

http://www.dehavillandhifi.com/Q&Akara_chaffee.htm

"The real acid test of an audio component is whether the owner listens to it.  A good audio component has to beat out the television, video game,  and the computer."  Its a real  "John Henry"  test against the steam hammer!"