Preamp advice

$1500

Atmasphere full function preamplifiers (phono stage included) have been OTL/OCL for more than 30 years, and they are fully balanced devices. You might find a pre-owned MP3 within your price limit. I have been using an MP1 for approaching 30 years.

By the way, isn't the Schiit Valhalla a headphone amplifier/preamplifier?  If so, not what the OP is looking for, I think. Several SS preamplfiers are also OCL/OTL, and balanced. Lots of choice if you want SS.

Actually, OTL is largely irrelevant for solid-state preamps and amplifiers, since they do not require transformers or buffer stages to regulate output impedance. What matters instead is OCL. One OCL solid-state preamp I’ve been interested in is the Benchmark LA4 Line Amplifier, which uses a servo circuit to control DC offset in its DC-coupled design.

I was also puzzled, @lewm, why the V3 would not meet the OP’s needs, given that it is primarily designed as a headphone amplifier. It should still function as a preamp, provided it has adequate capability?!

Atmasphere might not be possible  as Iam in Melbourne,  Australia.

There are no dealers for that amp here.