My favorite preamp options are the API 3124+ or API A2D and the Daking "The Mic Pre IV". Heard lots of good stuff about the Vintech preamps, but never actually used them.
The UA preamps are great for vocals and bass, but not so much on drums and guitars - imho. All the differences are just nuances really, I wouldn't consider really expensive preamps a must, even though they are nice to have. A rock solid and not so expensive option would be the Audient ASP008 (either with ADAT or without, depending on your future interface) or the RME Octamic II.
For interfaces, my choice was (and still is) the Fireface UFX. Depending on how much channels etc you need the UCX might be an option, both of them are USB+FW compatible.
Metric Halo interfaces are great, i.e. the I/O 2882 but it is for Mac + Firewire only. The Universal Audio Apollo interfaces seem great too, but you need Thunderbolt or Firewire.
Edit: Completely forgot the SSL XLogic Alpha Link AX, if you're using a tower PC or Mac. You'll need a PCIe interface (RME, SSL, etc) for that, though.