Phono Preamp Recommendations

It's really hard to make a recommendation when you don't outline your system. Kind of like asking what the best tires are when you don't mention what car you own.

I have owned many of the entry level phono preamps and my two favorites at your price point are the Musical Fidelity XLP and the Creek OBH-8SE. Not, not, not, the regular OBH-8. It is a completely different animal. Both are on the darkers side, with good drive and great pace and a lack of etch. If you want something brighter, the Cambridge Audio 640P may fit the bill, but I would rank it behind the other two.

I would skip the 540P as RIAA EQ is active and it uses ICs. My vote would go to the vintage Radio Shack 42-2101A phono preamp, which you should be able to buy for around $30.00.

It is all discrete, no ICs or op amps and sounds wonderful. I had it at the same time as the 640P and preferred it by a wide margin. It does not have a high gain stage for MC cartridges however. Then again, using a $200.00 phono stage with a low output MC may not be the best idea either.