Phono preamp

Have a good look at the TRON Seven phono stage.

http://www.tron-electric.co.uk/seven.html
http://6moons.com/audioreviews/tron2/seven.html

Fantastic build quality and truly top end sound. Made to order and can be adjusted to suit your cartridge. Comes in standard MC version and also Reference switchable version too.

Graham Tricker, who makes the TRON amps, is the UK distributor for Verdier as well.

Charlie

All good recommendations. I have not heard the Audia Flight or TW Acustic but have a TW Acustic table and if the phono preamp is as good as the table, it would warrant consideration. Nothing against Manley but I sold a Steelhead for a Tron Seven. Like Charlie above, have a good look at it. It is quite special.
Best to you on your search.

I second the ASR Basis Exclusive. As far as the "noise floor" comment...there is no floor. It is dead quite. Any quieter, and you would have to be living in a vacuum...which I suspect some of us are.

The Manley Steelhead I heard was very good. If the Tron 7 is better it must be special, but I have not heard it. Manley was bested head to head by Doshi Alaap which can be had as a full-featured pre-amp or as a stand alone phono stage with lots of custom configuration options.

Sorry to hear about your experience with MSS. I have to agree with avoiding MSS HiFi, the guy who so calls himself "the king of audio" but has terrible customer service, in fact down right rude. They tried to sell me something that was mis-described and would not own up to it, instead he said shut up and give me the money. I wish I never dealt with them.
I would never buy from them or recommend them.

Sorry to digress above but back to your question have you looked into E.A.R preamps? (ear-usa.com), I was very impressed with it's sound when paired with a Clear Audio table.