Phono Pre?


Looking to upgrade my old Audio Alchemy Vac In The Box phono pre. What are your recommendations for budget replacement (new or used)? I am partial to the higher output MM cartridges. Thanks for any insite you might have.
spindrifter
Seduction, it has a sweet sound. I have a Wright WPP200c and it has a very tube sound so if your amp is SS it may be an option. Its a bit too tubey for me except for classical where it rocks.

The Pro-Ject Tube Box/se/II may be an option but not with stock tubes. Its good but the Seduction is better no the best
Well, I hate to pile on ... but I just downright love my Seduction.

Even if you're not a DIY kind of person, it's worth every bit of the cost to have Bottlehead build it for you - around $670. If you're a DIY'er then you can buy the kit for $369 but I highly recommend the $75 C4S upgrade.

Awesome phono-stage.
the best from affordable small phono stages I had is the Highphonic I have here for sale....and bonus is that it is battery powered!Silence is beautiful!
So, it seems that so far the Bottlehead Seduction is the phono pre of choice. I'm 60 and have been into this hobby since the early 60's and always have been a SS guy. The tube phone pre intrigues me though. I have several SS integrateds that I listen with, a vintage Yamaha CA 1010 that I love, a vintage Kenwood integrated(also excellent)and a Creek Destiny(excellent). My vinyl rig is an AR ES-1 with a Sumiko Premier MMT arm that I bought new quite a while back and a Shure V15-V-MR? cartridge.
Hagerman Labs Coronet 2

half kit: http://www.hagtech.com/cornet2.html
assembled: http://www.haglabs.com/cornet2.html

- is everyone suddenly experiening collective amnesia over Jim Hagerman's great products?

Cheers,
Thom @ Galibier