" the bass has to be pretty controlled "
With your budget then the best preamp is Joule-Electra LA-150Mk2, used. Harry Pearson wrote that is has extraordinary bass and gave it some award (Golden Ear?) a few years ago. Not only it has excellent bass - it will match excellently, fantastically with your Bryston power amplifier.
Search on Audiogon, call them and ask for dealers who might have demos or they may have demo. For you , there is no better preamp !
With your budget then the best preamp is Joule-Electra LA-150Mk2, used. Harry Pearson wrote that is has extraordinary bass and gave it some award (Golden Ear?) a few years ago. Not only it has excellent bass - it will match excellently, fantastically with your Bryston power amplifier.
Search on Audiogon, call them and ask for dealers who might have demos or they may have demo. For you , there is no better preamp !