Phono Stage Pre Amp

I have to also specifially point out that just by looking under the tube cover of both PH3 and EAR834P phono preamps you can see a huge difference in built quality between these two components (DIY members will understand me) certainly in the favor of ARC PH3.
ARC PH3 is simply built to be perfect and nearly for life.

I own a ARC PH3 now and have auditioned the EAR834P before I bought the PH3. The 834P sounds very decent for the money. After all, it is only half the price of PH3. It also gives you additional advantage of having MM/MC selection so you have more freedom on cartridge. However, if you can afford the PH3, the sound is more refine, it will last for a long time and very good resale value.

I used to have EAR834P and now own ARC PH3 with DIY modification to SE using infinicap and caddock resistors.

EAR 834P has more gain but less flexible than ARC PH3 due to no good way to load the cartridge. But if your preamp does not have much gain, I wouldn't recommend ARC PH3 with low output(<0.6mV) cartridges, EAR 834P has little more gain. There are component modifications information available to improve EAR 834P sound but still not comparable to stock ARC PH3 sound.

ARC PH3 stock version sounded much better than EAR834P(EAR 834P is not a bad sounding preamp either). I now upgraded some of the components(using Infini caps and Caddock resistors) of my PH3 using SE schematics. Simple as changing a few stock resistors with Caddock or Vishay resistors gave a new life to ARC PH3 and Infini cap upgrade brought the ARC PH3 to another level. NOS tubes always make difference as well.

You might want to consider the Art Audio Vinyl One as well. You get plenty of gain (~65dB as I recall), tube regulated power supply, output volume control, and an all-tube circuit design. On the used market it is an especially good buy. It's just a thought. Good luck.

If you just want to "try it out", then the $25 "Little Rat" that runs on a 9 volt battery. Or get two and run them as dual-mono. Ask Dekay about it.