Looking for a new phono preamp

Thanks to everyone for the advice.  I have looked into most of the suggestions that fell near my budget limit.  

But...

I have located and arranged for the purchase of a preowned Herron VTPH-2A so close to my budget that I could not pass it up.  It was purchased new in 2018 and I am purchasing it from the original owner.

I am looking forward to adding it to my system.

Thanks again!

No, I won't share.  I can't be sure who it was, if it was one of them, and I would not want to disclose this information without evidence.

mijostyn,

I would not want to buy a phono stage that severely limits the cartridges I could use with it in the way your suggestion would.  For me, the  Channel D Lino C 2.0 would be a total waste of my time and my money.

The Gold Note looks interesting, I like the balanced outputs. Also the sutherland 20/20. I will also have a close look at the PS Audio.

I don’t see many mainstream reviews for the RCM. Also, it’s over my budget, and is essentially a used item with no original box.

Keep em coming :).

audition__audio,

Most humans have a need to justify the money they spend by telling themselves and others that what they got in return was not only the best for them, but for everyone else too.

It,'s a modern version of The Emperor's New Clothes.

Thanks everyone for the responses.  I am looking into all your suggestions. 

As for the life of tubes, I listen to the system roughly 10 hours a day, a bit less on weekends.  My listening room doubles as an office, and I work from home almost exclusively.  This puts over 2000 hours a year on the tubes.  I have not completely ruled out tubes, but I would prefer ss.

One other thing I'd like to add is that I'm getting more interested in finding a unit with balanced outputs. 

Right now, the way my listening room is set up, the turntable is behind one of the Maggies.  I'd like to be able to locate the turntable in another area of the room.  That would involve moving it approximately 15 feet from where it is now.

That also means a cable run of approximately 35 feet (thru the wall, over the ceiling, and down to the equipment rack.  I'm thinking that balanced is the way to go if I decide to make that happen.

My reason for asking about the Herron is informational.  As I said before, I haven't completely ruled out tubes.

I don't think I'm overthinking anything.  I'm just trying to decide what to buy, and the information I've gotten from this thread so far has been extremely helpful.

With regard to the Herron, am I reading it right that it is a hybrid design? The MC section is a fet based ss stage?

Musts?

"I've got a hard upper limit of $2.5k"   -partial fail

However, $50 over wasn't significant enough to me to let this one get away. , I'll give you half a point on this (generous at that).

" I'd prefer solid state, tubes get noisy too fast." - fail.
" I'm looking to buy new." - fail

~.5 out of 3, I guess that's not bad for a troll, and guess trolls can't bother actually reading.

I'm guessing you're one of the members here who PM'd me with an offer that I didn't take you up on.  Very sad.

Ok, so the  Herron is on it's way.  I'll be posting more on this once I get it into my system, and I'm sure I will have some questions for the owners of the VTPH-2A.

Thanks to everyone who had suggestions, I looked into almost every one.  I have to admit I have wanted to try on of the Herron products since I first heard a demo in the early 2000s, so I took a chance on a used unit.

I'm looking forward to find out what kind of effect it will have on my system. 

Pods?  We don't need no stinkin' pods. :)

A friend of mine turned me on to an excellent DIY isolation platform perhaps the best platform I've ever used.  He calls it the Boos-Penn platform.

Tried the tape thing, green dots and various other similar tweaks.  Didn't do a thing for me or the sound of either of my systems, other that part me with some cash.  If they work for you, great.