Solid State Phono Pre-amp Recommendations

I would also recommend the Parasound JC-3, I am running mine with a Delos and they work REALLY well together. Tons of gain and very quiet, good bass and lively fun sound.

My interest was also piqued by the Sutherland 20/20 but the JC-3 is too good to worry about buying anything else.

The ASR Basis Exclusive and Mini Basis seem to be well liked as well.

Also in the solid state category, the Einstein products seem to be well regarded.

I have owned a Sutherland 20/20 phono stage for a little over 2 months now; I play records most nights and on the weekends and I am still amazed and thrilled by the sound of all my vinyl.
The 20/20 is a quite flexible phono stage with regard to both gain, 5 settings from 40db to 64db in 6db steps and in loading also 5 settings as follows: 100,200, 475, 1000, 47,500 ohms. I run my Benz Micro Wood SL cart at 52db and 475 ohms & my vinyl sound far better than I have ever heard.
Even my old abused and hard used vinyl sounds better through the 20/20.
My system is as follows:
TT: Basis 2001 Signature with Basis Vector tone arm and Benz Micro Wood SL Cart.
Amp: Ayre V5X
Preamp: McIntosh C2200 used this phono stage (MM only) with a Benz ACE HO
previously and further in the past with a Grado Reference Master.
New & Current Phono pre-amp: Sutherland 20/20
Speakers: Maggies 3.6R
Cables: Transparent Audio

Good luck and I can add that I doubt that anyone moving up from a roughly $1K phono stage would not be delighted with the 20/20.I spent a lot of time researching phono stages without the ability to hear any of them and I find it hard to believe that any phono stage in the $2K to $2,500 range would beat the 20/20 in sound reproduction quality couple with all the flexibility the 20/20 offers. The professional reviews, they are out there, sold me and as did the flexibility built into the 20/20, which I value a lot. In addition Ron Sutherland, whom I do not know, but wrote to after buying his phono stage and asking a question was most accommodating and helpful. Strong support from the manufacturer is very important to me and this was supplied in abundance by Ron Sutherland himself, impressive.
I hope this helps you.

Sutherlands are neutral and very good at their price points.

Heard good things about the Parasound JC-3 but its engine is based on OpAmps (although carefully selected by John Curl) so I'm not sure about its long term value. So are the ASR mini basis exclusive, which I had and sold. It is perfect sounding but somehow a bit "flat"

Whest from the UK is phenomenal sounding. Rich with all the detail you will ever need, full of energy similar to a good tube stage.

As I also own an Aesthetix Rhea which is tube, and I wanted a solid state model with flexibility, clarity and transparency, so after a lengthy selection process, I settled on the Esoteric E-03.

For price no object, I heard the Bolder 1080 in a familiar system and was speechless. No contest. For lower priced units, Clearaudio makes good reasonably priced models.

If cost is no object you may as well save some cash. I have two suggestions preferable to most SS options at any price:

Bel Canto Phono 3
Jasmine LP 2.0se or MkII

Phil

Buy a used Pass Labs Xono for $1800 to $2200!

Many adjustments and settings - gain, resistor, capacitance for "ANY" MM or MC made!

Simple circuit, great reliability!

Many great reviews and awards!