I have to totally disagree with the above post. I have the SLP98 preamp with phono. It is one of the absolute best preamps on the market. With the stock kimbers, it is an excellent and musical preamp. With Teflon caps, which I put in, it is in the top tier of great preamps. Much experience with gear, but now you have two opinions, so I suggest you listen for yourself. If you want another opinion, do a search and see how long a fairly priced used SLP98 preamp remains on audiogon before being sold.
I think your price range excludes the 98 preamp. AES, which is also Cary, has simple versions, sometimes in kit forms of their preamps. They are reasonably priced new and used, you may want to check those out. They also do not last long on the used market. In fact, most good preamps that are reasonably priced do not remain on the market long.
Other suggestions that would work in your range (used price) and are respectable, Rogue Magnum, Audible Illusions L1, ARC SP6B, ARC SP8, ARC SP3A1, CJ PV series preamps. Even older CJ premier preamps sometimes show up less than $1000. I think a great vintage preamp, if you want to do some work restoring rectifiers and caps (not resistors) is an old Eico HF85. This has very respectable sound and I regret selling mine. Ugly as heck but I go after sound. . New you can consider the eastern minimax.
I think any of these preamps will do a good job and will not dissapoint.. You have to match it up with the rest of your system. I think linestage is easier to match than phono. If you buy on Audiogon without listening, then no matter what opinons you get, when you finally get the piece, if your taste differs, then you still may not like it. I suggest going to an audio dealer in your area. Many have used gear for sale at reasonable prices. Here in the Chicago area, as an example, Audio Consultants, Quintessence Audio and Holm Audio often have good supplies of trade in gear. At some, if you leave a credit card, they will allow you to take home and audition. Audio consultants has a 90 day, no questions asked return policy on their used gear. And of course, you can listen in store.
Good luck with your search.
