Suggestions for phono preamp for LOMC's

With $2.5K for a purchase of a Phononstage, it can be said a Prudent investigation of the Market Place could discover a Phon' not too many years old, that could have been a Phon' with a $7Kish price tag when released to the Market Place.

I have seen phon's costing over $10K when first Marketed, where the selling price is for approx' $3K +/- . That as a Phon' will not be classed as a Old Design by any means, just an obsolete model from the Manufacturer, where the latest model might have a few differences to the Topology and Chassis Design.  

@theflattire Modwright’s older SWP 9.0 and 9,0 SE did not use a SUT. The models you cite are current production models. As a 2008 review in Positive Feedback points out, no transformers are used in the audio circuit. The gain on the MC setting is 68 db. You can run 0.5 mV cartridges effectively on the MM setting. I’ve done it. Here’s a link to the review article. 

https://positive-feedback.com/Issue36/modwright_9.htm

Very happy with my Icon Audio ps 3 mk II. Works really well with my cartridge at 2.5mV. 

There is a great discussion of them here.

It's beautiful, powerful, built in step up transformer. 

I had a bunch of phono preamps. I last had a Modwright 9.0X good preamp but it cannot compete with the one I have now.

My system is pretty good right now. I have the VPI Classic 1 turntable with a Unami Blue Cart. Amplification is a Plinius SA102A that has been "upgraded by Ralph Abramo, Plinius Audio Sales and Repair, (949) 357-3858 and the US distributor. Pre Amp is a AR REf 3. Speakers are Canton Ref 3K.

Phono Preamp is DSA Phono One (used). Now for about $3000 you can get a 10 year old phono preamp designed and built by Doug Hurburt of DSA. The bad thing is at that age they might be on the cusp of needing some TLC. The great thing is that Doug will go through it with a fine tooth comb and make it new again for very reasonable money. So, for short money, less than $4000 you can has a world class $12,000 phono preamp that will work with ANY cartridge. And the sound is wonderful. Find some reviews on the internet. I am a very happy guy.

PS Audio Stellar Phono

Paradox Phono 70 - maybe Signature upgrade