What phono pre am I looking for?


It needs to be quiet, fast, dynamic and not cost an arm and a leg, $1500? Plays nice with a VPI/dynavector 20x2 low without a sut. I listen and enjoy most everything but, the British Invasion, Willie Nelson, Gillian Welch and jazz take the cake. I have tubes, an LTA pre, decware set amp and omega speakers. 
The new channel islands peq-1 looks mighty fine and dusty uses the 20x2 as his personal cart, which can't be bad?  New or used no problem. 

128x128jmolsberg
I have tube amps and preamp, and they match perfectly with the Pass Labs XP15, which is being replaced by the XP-17.  Both are solid state-- I have the idea that tubes everywhere can get you to a place of too much of a good thing, so adding this ss, very flexible phono stage has yielded very nice results for me.  Used they are in the $2,500 range, but I don't think you'll be disappointed, regardless of the cartridge you are using.  Food for thought.

Best place for good value and great service on a new or demo unit is Mark at Reno Hifi.  A true gentleman.
Fourwnds
I did not. But I read good things.
I don't want to use a step up and not sure I need more tubes. 

Liamowen, I know it would fit the bill perfectly but so expensive. 
Parasound JC3+
Micromega MyGroov

Are the best I’ve heard. I’ve been on the phono quest for the past couple of years and heard just about every preamp from a major manufacturer. My list would be approaching 50 units, all personally tested by me in my own system. That’s how good those two are. To my ears of course. 
@chakster

The deciding factors in my purchase of the Parasound were simply that I received a good discount from my local dealer and he had one for me to audition in my home, risk free. It was a worthy upgrade over my Lounge LCR and has great synergy with the rest of my gear, including its look.

I would’ve had to buy the PH-10 from an unfamiliar dealer, who would’ve had to special order it from Italy (which likely meant no option to return). Had I not been so pleased with the JC3 Jr, I would’ve taken a gamble on the PH-10.

A member of another forum I frequent preferred the Parasound to about a half dozen well-regarded phono stages, including the Rega Aria, Manley Chinook, and Lehmann BC SEII.