[chgolatin2]

Budget $200-$300 Been reading around and there are so many. What's the difference? Especially between the low end models. Here's some I've gathered:

- $50-$79:

Bellari VP-29
TCC TC-760LC
BBE FJB-200X
Audiotechnica AT-PEQ3

- $149-$179:

Little Bear tube phono http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00H0FIGUO/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=2FDYLXCLK92TX&coliid=I3RFHQV1OFS4W1DB Systems DB-8
Cambridge - Azur 551P MM
Cambridge Azur 640p
Music Hall PA1.2
Music Fidelity V-LPS
NAD PP 2e
BRIK Phono Stage

Which is best? Which are better than others in each price range? What's best for casual in-home listening? It will be used with a Cary Audio SLI 80 tube integrated amp, vintage Technic SL1200 turntable with a Stanton 500 cartridge, VR2 tower speakers, I have about 50 vinyl records that I want to get back into to listening.  Would love a tube phono pre amp but the good ones are not very cheap    Thanks~  and apologize for posting so many damn questions...

[vinyl_guy]

The ones you listed are well below your "budget." If your budget is in the $200-$300 range, I recommend the Bellari VP150. It is $275 new at Music Direct. It is a great budget Phono. Highly recommended by Michael Fremer. I have a friend who went this route and she loves it. You can roll tubes and improve the performance.

http://www.musicdirect.com/p-3401-bellari-vp130-tube-phono-preamp.aspx?source=igodigital&

[rif]

Haglabs bugle 2 is under $200 assembled

[S Clark]

Can you solder?  The Cambrige 640 can be upgraded pretty easily. 

[ACHiPo]

Used Lehman BlackCube?  Pretty good sound for the buck.

[jarcher]

Used Lehman BlackCube?  Pretty good sound for the buck.

+1

Or if you want new, a Pro-Ject Phono Box S - that one has the nice wima parts + a lot of adjustability at just $199.

From personal experience the $269 Micromega MyGroov and MF V-Lps are not too bad either. The VLPS sounds notably better slapping a linear power supply on it.

But with a Stanton 500 I wouldnt obsess the phono preamp choice too much unless your trying to get ahead for a future better cart.

[neobop]

But with a Stanton 500 I wouldnt obsess the phono preamp choice too much unless your trying to get ahead for a future better cart.

That's what I was saying on the other thread, or one of the other threads.  If you're planning on keeping the Stanton, the TCC might be a good choice, but not the 760, the one that's MM only.  It has 10dB higher S/N.

I suspect keeping the 500 is not the case, but what is the case do you know? 

Two of the more prominent contenders in the $300 range are Lounge Audio (LCR) and Vista.  I didn't see either one on the list.  They are sort of opposites functionally.  Lounge is MM only with set load and gain and said to be very natural sounding.  Vista is about as versatile as they get, with many options for gain and load it's described as fast/clean. 
There's also Emotiva.  At around $150 it probably beats most on the list, but I haven't heard any of these. 
BTW, no need to apologize for so many questions.  We're here to help.  Do you have record cleaning facilities?  That's super important if you actually want to listen.   
neo

[C17FXR]

There is also the McCormack Micro Phono Drive for around $300 used.
Very good sleeper for the price.
Then when you feel you want to move up you could have it upgraded at SMc Audio by Steve McCormack himself.
Here is some info concerning that along with a review.
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=132673.msg1414146#msg1414146
Funny thing, you hardly ever see the upgraded models up for sale.

[chgolatin2]

Can you solder?  The Cambrige 640 can be upgraded pretty easily.

How easily?  Not a pro, but I can hold my own..

[chgolatin2]

+1

Or if you want new, a Pro-Ject Phono Box S - that one has the nice wima parts + a lot of adjustability at just $199.

From personal experience the $269 Micromega MyGroov and MF V-Lps are not too bad either. The VLPS sounds notably better slapping a linear power supply on it.

But with a Stanton 500 I wouldnt obsess the phono preamp choice too much unless your trying to get ahead for a future better cart.

For now this is the cart that I have, in the future it will be upgraded but I am new to vinyl so bare with me, still on baby steps

[4Play]

My number one go-to phono preamp is the Emotiva XPS-1. It's compatible for moving magnet and moving coil cartridges. For less than $150, five year warranty, 30 day home trial and free shipping, it doesn't get any better than this.

[S Clark]

How easily?  Not a pro, but I can hold my own..

You pull a half dozen caps with a de-soldering iron ($20+) http://www.parts-express.com/ecg-j-045-ds-45-watt-desoldering-iron--372-202
Hypnotoad at AudioKarma has a thread on it.  http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/modded-640p-giant-killer-phono-stage.346388/

... or buy a Vista.

[bacobits1]

Vista Highly recommended! Nicely adjustable.
Also a MS Phonomena II. I had the ifi also very good adjustable.
I have had all of the above.
Too many noise problems with the Bellari I have read, Lounge is supposed to be nice too.
Many good choices out there now.

[roscoeiii]

The  Lounge gets raves as an MM only phono stage. And the iFi iPhono gets great reviews too,  though you may need to find it used.

[JackD]

Hard to beat the Vista and you would hard pressed to find a cartridge in the future it won't work with.