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

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!"

Look at PS Audio. Their new PMG preamp might be a bit out of your price range, but now that the new preamp is out, the BHK Signature preamp are selling for less than $4000. It’s just a preamp,  no DAC or Phono preamp. Oh and it’s a hybrid. With a tube input section, you can tube roll and contour the sound a bit.  To me, that was a plus.

All the best.

It's not under $5k unless you can find one used, but the Linear Tube Audio MicroZOTL preamp is quite good.  Mine is a level 2.  The newest version is level 3.

It replaced a more lush sounding conrad-johnson preamp. I thought I might miss the "warmth", but I don't.  I prefer the LTA. 

+1 for Don Sachs pre.  I’ve had one for a few years that unexpectedly outperformed and replaced an AR-6se.  It really is that good.