inexpensive phono pre amp

I had a Emotiva XPS-1 for a second TT. It was really nice. Sounded great, quiet. Nice & small. I really liked it. I sold it because I sold my 2nd TT. It is MM/MC with adjustments for load impedance.

Parks Audio, Puffin. :-)

I like the Bluepoint Sumiko

Regards

The Puffin is a great value.

Hagerman

I had the Parasound for several months before I upgraded my integrated amp.  It did nothing wrong and it seems like a fantastic value.

Mani with a $30 linear power supply instead of wall wart.

I have been listening to vinyl while searching for great sound for over fifty years and regardless of the reviews, inexpensive phono stages have performed incredibly poorly and held back the sound my turntables. Everyone has budget constraints, and you have to do what you have to do what you have to do to get the best sound you can. So for the future at some time, this is a place where investment is really worth it.

Lounge Audio, LCRIII - $300, mic drop, lol

I have a QHW "The Vinyl" from Spain. At$775, it's not exactly a budget unit, but it doesn't have a stratospheric price tag either. This phono pre is the real deal and sounds fantastic. Has MC and a MM section that isn't a after thought. Give it a try. Has a money back guarantee. 

MoFi makes a phono preamp in the $300 range that gets great reviews and even has a mono switch.

I have that MoFi amp, and its a keeper, for me.  

Second thumbs up for the Lounge Audio LCRIII.👍

Get her into tubes with a Bellari.

Hey Slaw, found one of your tt mats. Awesome!

Thanks @mr_m .

Mani is just ok…it isn’t great. Ended up selling that piece of schiit as it was noisy. 
MoFi is much better. Tried the Ultra but as far as I know the StudioPhono is pretty much the same minus headphone out. 
ifi Zen gets good reviews. I haven’t heard it. 

ifi Zen or Parasound becoming more interesting the more I read about them. 

Schiit Mani noisy? Not the one I had. Great unit for the price.

Hagerman Bugle 3 - $200 and sounds great for the money!

Get the Cambridge Duo. Best measuring phono over at ASR.

If not that, get the schiit mani.

Duo for $180 refurbished but still thinking about the ifi zen. Wish I could compare these against my Herron

Just to note that I bought my daughter an ifi Zen. Seems to be working well for her.