Preamp for VPI Prime 21 turntable $300-800

Audphile1 makes a lot of sense about jasonborne. I would add that if he did sell some of his collection, he may be able to buy some decent cables.

Try to find a used Sutherland Little Loco phono preamp,or a used Parasound JC3+ or even a Whest audio.

There is a Whest Audio PS.30R here on AGON for $1,400.00 right now

declare makes a very nice tube phono preamp. You can choose MM or MC step transformers. AND - made in USA. I have had one for my MM cartridge for several years. Very happy with it.

There is also a used little loco here on AGON for $2,900.00

You might want to read Herb Reichert's write-up on the Lounge Audio Copla transimpedance MC preamp in the March 2023 Stereophile. "The Copla made recordings sound charged and vivid in the extreme but also vivid and relaxed." concluding "It behaved like someone forgot a zero on its price tag." It costs $350.00 or there is a silver-wired version that costs $485.00.

Few things piss me off more than cavalier comments about having to spend gigabucks for quality. You don't. You have to simply learn what makes quality, learn what quality sounds like, and buy it. If you want to buy industrial shelf art, be my guest, but quality design and execution are not inextricably linked to the price tag.