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

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. 

Assuming you already have a phonostage, and are looking for a dynamic sounding, “no frills” linestage, you might consider the Hattor Autoformer Reference Preamplifier for $2910 (RCA only) or $4774 (rca and XLR). (link)

A passive preamplifier but with the impedance benefits of autoformers, so no loss of tone or dynamics as is common with resistor based passives. Excellent clarity, tone, and dynamics for the price.  Nice display, multiple inputs/outputs, dual mono (so balance control), and all functions accessible through the metal remote control.

Hattor’s The Big Passive/Active Ultimate Preamplifier with three user adjustable gain options is another great sounding linestage for the price.