Looking for the best Preamp with a phono circuit built in

@mdrummer01

Do you need balanced or single-ended? All phono cartridges are balanced sources for what its worth.

I've never understood this penchant for designers for treating phono as a separate and distinct entity..  Somehow we got on this train and still, in 2019,  can't get off (with rare exceptions).  Besides the added cost there is the insult of adding another set of cables, another power cord, more space used.  What a royal pain.  

1) Hovland 100 preamp with mc phono.  you should get the old series.
2) Audible Allusion
3) CAT preamp
4) Atmophere 

i would pick the atmosphere hands down!  

I saw a David Berning preamp here the other day which would probably be awesome.

Agree with celander.  The Audible Illusions have a very good phono section.  I had a 2D for 18 years and a 3A w/ John Curl MC phono section for 5 years.  23 years of AI enjoyment.  I finally decided to go all out and do the preamp, and separate phono preamp.  It's been very tough to find a phono preamp that could equal my TRL DUDE preamp in sound.  I'm on my 5th try with the phono pre.  The AI's are VERY reliable if you stick with AI's best matched set of tubes.  I only had to change tube sets 2 times in the 18 years and none in the 5 years of the 3A.  The latest Audible Illusions 3B is supposed to even sound better compared to a 3A as the 3A did compared to a 2D.  If you go used, the AI 3B will be around $2500-2700 for MM phono.  Add about $600 for the John Curl phono section.  Not many 3B's are showing up used, maybe one per 6 months.  The 3A's will appear used once a month or so.

Bob