tube phono stage under $1k?

I would suggest that you may get better sound overall by looking for an integrated amp with a phono stage, thereby not having to run your analog thru the receiver at all. You would run the receiver's L/R pre-outs into the IA as an auxiliary input for HT applications.

I'd also recommend the Wright WPP100C. I have it, and it's a great unit. Definitely better in some ways than the one internal to the BAT Vk-30 preamp I have (which in itself is not a bad phono stage). The Wright is dead quiet, adjustable gain, very nicely made for the price, and has a cool copper chassis. As a bonus, the tubes are fairly cheap too. I've seen and heard the Hagerman and that's a nice piece too, Jim H. is a cool guy to deal with too.

-Ed

I agree with Inscrutable; why buy this expensive of a phono stage to use with a receiver (this does not compute, at least to me)? I'd put the $$ towards a nice used integrated, like a Plinius, & get one with a built in phono stage. A Creek (5350SE I believe) is another idea, as would be a Bryston B-60. At least if you add a better phono stage later, the amp quality will be high enough to enable you to hear the results. As far as tube phono stages tho, a used ARC PH-3 is one idea in your price range.

I have one word and only one word for you and this is the ONLY word you need to know (in my humble opinion) - Quicksilver Audio Phono Stage Preamplifier or Moving Coil Transformer ;)

thanks for the feedback. The wright appealed to me alot, in spite of what I realize is a home spun operation. But I'm glad to see anumber of others who have use experince.
I had also considered the Hagerman, as I have no prob with DIY. But the finished Wright looks so good, and the grounding concept so valid, in my mind, that I steered towards built units.
I'd not seen the Quicksilver and I'll look at that.

I thought I'd get batted out of the park with my mention of mid level rcvrs. I'm glad to see that's not the case.