Do they make a quiet great sounding phono pre amp??

I’ll fourth the Herron VTPH-2. I can’t imagine that you’d be disappointed in it, Matt, although at a list price of $3650 buying it new would exceed your stated budget somewhat. I’m pretty sure that the lower of the two gain configurations it is offered in (64 db) would be fine for your 0.3 mv cartridge, but you would want to confirm that via a call to Keith Herron (who is completely wonderful to deal with, btw). Most people purchase it in that configuration, rather than the 69 db configuration that is offered for use with cartridges having extremely low output.

Also, spec-wise it would be a fine match for your Jumbo Shrimp preamp.

Regarding noise, it has a FET-based (solid state) input stage, with the rest of its signal path in the 64 db configuration using two 12AX7 and three 12AT7 tubes (some of those tubes also serving the signal path for the separate moving magnet input). I have the originally supplied tubes in mine, and it is absolutely quiet even when heard via my Stax electrostatic headphones with the volume control at max, which is far higher than the control would ever be set with my 0.5 mv cartridge.

Good luck. Regards,
-- Al

If the choice comes down to the Allnic H-1201 vs. the Herron or one of the other phono stages that have been suggested, a point that may be worth considering is that the design of the H-1201’s transformer-based input stage (for LOMCs) does not provide much flexibility in terms of resistive loading.

The H-1201 manual indicates that each of the four gain settings it provides for LOMC cartridges presents the cartridge with a specific load impedance that is not adjustable by the user. From the information provided I calculate those values to be approximately as follows:

62 db overall gain: 280 ohms
66 db overall gain: 120 ohms
68 db overall gain: 70 ohms
72 db overall gain: 30 ohms

(The overall gain numbers might each be 2 db lower than those values, as the specs appear to be a bit inconsistent).

The Herron provides a pair of RCA jacks on its rear panel for connection of external loading plugs, which Keith can supply in any value. Although he suggests that connecting nothing to those jacks, which will result in its FET-based input stage presenting a nearly infinite number of ohms to the cartridge (i.e., no load), is often optimal in the case of the VTPH-2.

In past threads Jonathan Carr (Lyra cartridge designer), Atmasphere, and perhaps others have stated that light loading of an LOMC cartridge (i.e., a high number of ohms) will generally tend to enhance dynamics and provide other sonic benefits, UNLESS a lower value is necessary as a result of phono stage sensitivity to energy at RF frequencies that an LOMC can generate. The Herron apparently has no such sensitivity, that would have audible consequences.

Hope that helps. Regards,
-- Al

Inna, keep in mind that it’s far more challenging for a phono stage to provide quiet performance with a 0.3 mv cartridge such as the OP’s than with a high output cartridge such as your 6.5 mv Goldring.

Regards,
-- Al

Edit:  Looks like you responded to my post before I even submitted it :-)

I was able to place two 3to2 adapters on all components EXCEPT the main amplifier, I think by doing this the system is now funneling the grounds down to the one outlet, and now its quiet as a mouse!!

Matt, correct me if I'm wrong but I believe you are saying that you placed 3-prong to 2-prong adapters (also referred to as cheater plugs) on the AC power plugs of components, using them with the safety ground pin left unconnected, and that the reference to "two" adapters means that you put one on the power plug of the preamp and one on the power plug of the phono stage.

If so, what you've done is to break a ground loop between the phono stage and the preamp, that was causing the noise.  If you search past threads here dealing with the use of cheater plugs to resolve ground loop issues (which can take the form of hum or high frequency noise or both) you'll find that some people have utilized that approach as a permanent fix, while others passionately argue that it creates a completely unacceptable safety risk.  The risks being fire and shock.  And also the possibility that if a major fire were to start in that room, use of cheater plugs could conceivably provide your insurance company with an excuse to not pay.

FWIW my opinion on the matter is that while the risks are **extremely** small, it cannot be said that they are zero.  Personally, I would consider using cheater plugs to resolve ground loop problems to be a solution that is acceptable in the short term but not permanently.  Good permanent solutions would include inserting a suitably chosen Jensen transformer between the phono stage and the preamp, assuming that what I said in the first paragraph above is a correct interpretation (post back if you'd like more information on model selection), or changing one of the components to something else, or in the case of a responsive manufacturer asking them if they can change the internal grounding configuration of their component to one that is less susceptible to ground loop issues.

But those are just my own feelings on the matter.  Others have different views in many cases, as I mentioned.  And of course it's your call. 

Regards,
-- Al