[Upstateaudio]

If you  don't mind buying used.  Try a Classe DR6.  This preamp is extremely quiet and has a separate power supply.

~900-1000 used.   No remote though.

[toobluvr]

Not having heard the other ones mentioned here, I can't comment on them.  But I can give a hearty recommendation to the one I do own:

JuicyMusic Blueberry Xtreme

http://www.juicymusicaudio.com/blueberryxtreme.html

I have owned and heard many in the 4-6k range, and the BB gives up little if anything at all to any of them.....and in some cases, is a better performer.  It is a staggeringly good value, and Mark Deneen's customer support is exemplary.

It is musical as all get-out, while still offering excellent transparency and detail.  Stage is wide and deep, and images are strongly focused and palpable.  Tonality is spot on.  Noise floor is low and background is black.  It is a tube rollers dream, as it readily reveals the different sonic flavors  of the various NOS tubes that I have fed it.

You can get it w the Cream MC phono option for less than your budget.  Mine has the Cream, but since I don't have a MC cartridge, I've yet to hear it.  I can say the MM section is excellent (as is the line section), and Mark assures me I'm in for a real treat once I do enter the MC realm.

Here's a review of the original BB.  The Xtreme is even better.

http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/juicymusic/blueberry.html

Give it a good hard look.  I don't think you will be disappointed.
Best I've heard for the money...and even for thousands more.

[djbnh]

toobluvr,

You said,

Here's a review of the original BB. The Xtreme is even better.

In your listening, how was the Xtreme better than the original BB? In your opinion, what did it do better, and what did it do just as well (if anything)?

[toobluvr]

You said,

Here's a review of the original BB. The Xtreme is even better.

In your listening, how was the Xtreme better than the original BB? In your opinion, what did it do better, and what did it do just as well (if anything)?[/quote]

I did get a chance to hear the original BB as it made its rounds on the roadshow.  I believe the website details the actual parts changes....mainly in the area of a more robust power suppy and some cap and resistor upgrades.

In my communications with Mark, he relayed that most of the Xtreme mods lie in the phono section, and they would manifest themselves as a deeper and more detailed and articulated bass response.  I did indeed hear this improvement with the Xtreme.  I also thought dynamics and clarity in general were kicked up a notch.  There was a general sense of ease in the original BB in which music just oozed in a liquid and natural way.  This too seemed to get even better with the Xtreme.  To my ears, these improvements were not only in the phono section, but in the line section as well when using my cd player.  I did not, however, have both units together for a direct comparison, so I am operating on memory here.

To me the trademark sound of this unit, and what makes it so endearing to my ears, is its unfailing rendition of natural textures in the music, and a liquidity, tone, palpability and musicality that makes listening a joy.
These attributes remain unaltered.  If anything, it has gotten even better in these areas.

If you have further interest you can contact Mark directly.  He is quite user friendly, loves taking audio, and can better detail the differences between the two units.