Hi. I'm in a somewhat similar situation, listening to audio via a Yamaha RX-V2400 HT receiver. I've auditioned numerous budget phono stages this past year and IN MY SYSTEM here's what I found.
The internal phono stage is comparable to these: NAD PP-2, Parasound zPhono, Rotel RQ-970BX.
These phono stages sound better than the internal stage but aren't worth the "upgrade" money: Grado PH-1, Musical Surroundings Phonomena. Don't get me wrong. Both of these sounded much better than the Yammie's phono stage but FOR MY BUDGET (and my marriage) they were too much money to be worth it.
These phono stages sound better and FOR ME are worth the money: TC-760LC, Cambridge Audio 640P, Bellari VP-129. I finally settled on the Bellari -- it seems to me that the tube flavor really balances the SS HT receiver's sterility.
Good luck.
Rich
The internal phono stage is comparable to these: NAD PP-2, Parasound zPhono, Rotel RQ-970BX.
These phono stages sound better than the internal stage but aren't worth the "upgrade" money: Grado PH-1, Musical Surroundings Phonomena. Don't get me wrong. Both of these sounded much better than the Yammie's phono stage but FOR MY BUDGET (and my marriage) they were too much money to be worth it.
These phono stages sound better and FOR ME are worth the money: TC-760LC, Cambridge Audio 640P, Bellari VP-129. I finally settled on the Bellari -- it seems to me that the tube flavor really balances the SS HT receiver's sterility.
Good luck.
Rich