Help me pick a phono preamp

First, there is a Simaudio Moon LP3 on sale at musicdirect.com for $350 new. It is not at all 5.3 but might be an improvement in your system; and you can send it back if you don't like it.
Now let me tell you what I did though it cost me $1.5k not $1k. I had a Pro-ject Xpression table/arm with cheap Sumiko cartridge and speed control box and Pro-Ject phono box SE. I sold all that and got used Nottingham Spacedeck/Spacearm, new Dynavector 10X5 cartridge and new Moon LP3 phono stage. The difference is huge, this is not just an improvement.
Within a few years I will replace the cartridge, the phono stage and my Audiolab integrated and will add motor controller for the turntable. Nottingham will stay for a very long time until (if) I am ready to spend really big money. I might also get a better arm but only if I plan to add $2k or so cartridge which is not very likely.
So..you can approach the upgrade subject in more than one way.

thanks all. Inna, I like what you did. I'm just not ready to do that. I guess back to my original question, what pho pre would improve on the one I have....seems like all of the ones mentioned would. And how often do you need to replace batteries if i went the sutherland route- i don't want to be buting batteries all the time either. anyone know about this heed quasar?

I have had the Sutherland over a year and put new batteries in it when I bought it. Still going strong. 1200 hours is what Sutherland says.

thanks. i am going to check out the sutherland also

There is a Whest.20 on sale here for $1,050 (no affiliation). Tough to go wrong with that for a grand.