Best Phono Pre-amp..for the money?


I am in need of the best phono pre-amp for a moving mag. cartridge (high-end Grado) to run into a line stage. Some say the Creek 8SE, some the Black Cube...I can't afford the CJ or ARC units...any advice?
whatjd
I just talked to Frank Van Alstine this morning. He claims his new Omegastar phono preamp ($485) outperforms Klyne preamps. That's a very bold statement, I'd say...if it's true, WOW!
for budget fono-stage, i'd check out the acurus 47k & the anthem p10 - several folks told me these smoke the black cube, when i was searching for a fono-stage last year. i ended-up w/a pentagon ps-3 - a german unit that retailed for $1800. i got it for $600, cuz no one in the usa has heard of it! ;~) discovery cable was an importer of pentagon electronics - i dunno if they still handle 'em. it's great - far nicer than the musical surroundings phonomena i had for a while. of course, the $1800 pentagon should be better than the phonomena, as the phonomena lists for $600... but, even the fono-stage in the linn kairn preamp i used to own, was better than the phonomena. makes me think the linn linto might also be worth checking out - these are awailabe used for ~50% of retail...

doug s.

>He claims his new Omegastar phono preamp ($485) outperforms Klyne preamps.

Is he the same guy who authored this letter that's on his website? Reading it was good for a few laughs!
it was also good to read the follow-ups - a person obviously sceptical about exotic cable being worthwhile, yet he's keeping the stuff in his system from the only mfr who had the guts to take him up on his challenge - this article should be posted in one of the many cable threads on this forum... thanks for the tip, mike.

doug s.