If you are willing to reach, I very highly recommend the used Conrad Johnson Motif MC-8 preamp someone is selling here for $480. This thing sold for $2300 new back in the late 1980's. Considering the audiophile quality phono stage it has, it would easily sell for $4000+ today if it was new.
This is a real high end solid state preamp. It is not a budget piece.
It actually has two separate MM and MC stages with separate inputs. It is not some cheap thing with a a gain switch on the outside. There is a switch on the back only because there is only one output for phono. You could connect two turntables to the preamp (one MM, one MC).
I owned one for over 6 years, and would not blink to buy one again if I had the need for another high end preamp with built in phono.
This is a real high end solid state preamp. It is not a budget piece.
It actually has two separate MM and MC stages with separate inputs. It is not some cheap thing with a a gain switch on the outside. There is a switch on the back only because there is only one output for phono. You could connect two turntables to the preamp (one MM, one MC).
I owned one for over 6 years, and would not blink to buy one again if I had the need for another high end preamp with built in phono.