I use Quicksilver's older Full Feature Preamp for analog. It includes an exellent phono stage, and was designed to pair with the very expensive Quicksilver 135 amp. I suggest the later models which used a single 5ar4 tube for rectification. ($500-800)
For a line stage alone, I was very happy with the Conrad-Johnson PFR, even though it was solid state. ($700-900)
Like most preamps, both have way too much gain, and so much better (quieter) results are achieved by adding resistance to the amplifier's input.
I also had an AI 3 , not the 3A, prior to the Quicksilver. The FFP was a big improvement.
For a line stage alone, I was very happy with the Conrad-Johnson PFR, even though it was solid state. ($700-900)
Like most preamps, both have way too much gain, and so much better (quieter) results are achieved by adding resistance to the amplifier's input.
I also had an AI 3 , not the 3A, prior to the Quicksilver. The FFP was a big improvement.