Chinese phono pre

I don't know what you mean by "inexpensive" - - I've owned a Morningstar phono preamp for about 10 years.  It gets daily use and has performed flawlessly.  They are no longer in production, but occasionally they turn up on the used market for less than $1000., including on Audiogon.

Will see different types at around $500 or even less.Some less than $100 .

Sure. Why not? Inexpensive can be good and almost everything is made in China anyway. Just be careful not to spend too much on gear with no solid back up, return, or repair policy.

Nothing that I’ve heard.

Just to clarify - - my phono amp is an Eastern Electric, which I bought from the U.S. distributor, Morningstar.

Search for and buy a PS Audio IV preamp. USA-made with external power supply. A superb, quality preamp! I have two of them! Why spend money on Ch*nese stuff?

I'm still happy with my Jolida JD-9. Lots of gain, loading, and capacitance flexibility and easy to mod with socketed op amps and 12A_7 tubes. I've never had the desire to upgrade.

Read mostly good things about the Yaqin 23b,but wonder if there is better for around the same cost?

Using a Ortophon 2M blue cartridge.