[chgolatin2]

Recommendations for a cheap and cheerful tube phono pre amp?   Go!  thanks

[starkiller]

Many many kudos for the Parks Audio Budgie!! Love mine

[chgolatin2]

Many many kudos for the Parks Audio Budgie!! Love mine

Thanks, I actuallyy have the Parks Audio Budgie it's ok but I'm not happy with it~ Looking to upgrade to either an Aric Audio transcend or Don Sachs unit but my budget is between $1200 or below, not sure if this qualifies for cheap and cheerful~   

[starkiller]

$1200 is a bit steep yes   What don't you like about the Budgie??

[mick wolfe]

Recommendations for a cheap and cheerful tube phono pre amp?   Go!  thanks

Maybe the Yaqin MS23B. You can find it on Amazon, so there's a 30 day return option. I have a couple friends who are quite happy with them in budget systems.

[yeldarb]

See AVA.

[yeldarb]

Sorry, missed that you just want a phono pre.

[WGH]

AVA has a phono preamp, no tubes but $499 will get you excellent sound.
http://avahifi.com/products/for-vinyl-lovers/vision-riaa-phono-preamplifier

Jim Hagerman's phono preamps have extremely well designed circuits. I built an upgraded Cornet2 from a kit and love it. The pre-assembled Cornet3 is basically the same with two 12AX7's and a 12AU7 tube but without the massive transformer and rectifier tube. $459.00 and you could always make a nicer case later or spray paint it Ferrari red.
https://hagerman-audio-labs.myshopify.com/collections/phono-preamps



Save some money and eliminate the tubes with Bugle2 kit for $49 (circuit board only) or an assembled Bugle3 for $239.



I had a Bottlehead phono preamp before the Cornet2 and the comparison between the two did not go well for the Bottlehead, the Cornet2 was exponentially better in every department.

[chgolatin2]

AVA has a phono preamp, no tubes but $499 will get you excellent sound.
http://avahifi.com/products/for-vinyl-lovers/vision-riaa-phono-preamplifier

Jim Hagerman's phono preamps have extremely well designed circuits. I built an upgraded Cornet2 from a kit and love it. The pre-assembled Cornet3 is basically the same with two 12AX7's and a 12AU7 tube but without the massive transformer and rectifier tube. $459.00 and you could always make a nicer case later or spray paint it Ferrari red.
https://hagerman-audio-labs.myshopify.com/collections/phono-preamps



Save some money and eliminate the tubes with Bugle2 kit for $49 (circuit board only) or an assembled Bugle3 for $239.



I had a Bottlehead phono preamp before the Cornet2 and the comparison between the two did not go well for the Bottlehead, the Cornet2 was exponentially better in every department.

Thanks, I'll look into it~  Much appreciated

[Letitroll98]

It's fine for the op to independently pursue a budget of $1,200, but our recommendations have to stay within guidelines, which are loosely enforced.  WGH did a perfect job of this, I'd look to his post as a guideline on how to reply.

[bentconvert]

+1 on Hagerman products. I also built an upgraded Cornet2 from a kit and am very pleased with it.