Phono Stage Question

There are alot to choose from even in that price range. The EAR is very nice but twice the price of what you're considering. What is your budget? What is your taste in sound? What is the rest of your system? Are you wanting to buy new or are you willing to buy used? Do you want the capability of playing lower output MCs or are you happy to narrow your options to outputs higher than 1 mv?

I heard that room at CES and the Heed is a great value. At your 1k point there are alot of contenders. Michael Yee has just come out with a battery operated phono for Musical Surroundings at 1k just as Ron Sutherland has. Michael's compares very well to the $2800 model but without the frills. ASR also has one at that price, not battery powered. Audio Electronics has their PH-1 DJH for $900. EAR has an mm version of the 834P Black for 1k. I think you'd have to compare them side by side to get a proper take on them though.

Depending on other considerations such as preamp gain, preamp noise, phono stage noise, amplifier gain, speaker sensitivity and listening volume preferences, you might get away with 45 to 50db of phono stage gain. A typical mm phono stage gain would be 40 to 45db give or take so you'll be riding the edge with many and you'll want to check the specs, both gain and noise.