Preamp Upgrade Advice

Anyone looking for a preamp under $10K should definitely look at the PS Audio PMG Signature preamp. Designed by a brilliant young engineer, Darren Myers, this preamp excels at transparency, naturalness, and openness of soundstage, while never sounding harsh or fatiguing. It is also very engaging, dynamic, and "real."

Check out the links to rave reviews on the PS Audio website. For example, Steve Guttenberg gushes over how the PMG pre "nails" the attack and tone of solo piano,  which is notoriously hard to get right. He also finds the PMG to generate more impactful bass and a wider and deeper soundstage than the LTA tube-based preamp that is his current reference.

But there's no need to take my word for it. PS Audio offers a 30-day trial if you want to listen to the PMG preamp in your own system. (And if output impedance is an important issue for you, the impedance for the PMG is 100 ohms.)

Preamps are only one component in the chain. 
I suspect your “ bad actor” is a different component or possibly the combined intersection of 2. If you want useful advice vs random luck share the system… wouldn’t surprise me if the actual cause of your “dry neutral sound” was the combined result of the Benchmark with another component.

@baldassinia 

There is an Audio Research REF 6 on USAM for $6900.  For PASS, you could upgrade to an XP-20 or XP-22 with your budget.  I had a 20 for a while and it was fantastic.

@ghdprentice 

My brain initially went to the 90s also, but I am sure the OP is talking about ARC's new solid state LS-2 and LS-3.  Kind of odd they chose to use those old model numbers with a hyphen.

You should look at the Parasound JC2BP designed by John Curl. It’s all analog no DAC as well no phono preamp. Output impedance rated at 60 ohms. Has L R gain controls for perfect gain matching with your amp. The preamp will recreate deep lows effortlessly as well mids and highs are  very natural, nothing clinical. Has polarity switching via remote if you have that need. Balanced in and out and very low noise. I’ve had mine for over a year now and my level of performance has never been better. 

I have an ARC REF 6 paired with a Pass Labs 250.8.  I highly recommend the REF 6, which IMHO is well above the LS28SE or the REF 5 and gives you some of that nice tube sound with the power of the Pass Labs to back it up.  Reach a little more to get that pre and you will not be disappointed.