Phono stage or pre Amp? which is most important.

I think both.  If the preamp is not resolving enough, the resolution of the phono stage will not make its way through.  I upgraded a few years ago from a AyreK5xe MP Preamp to a Jeff Rowland Criterion and the sonic improvement was staggering.  I just upgraded my phono stage from an Asthetix Rhea to an Allnic H3000 and, once again, the improvement is staggering.  I wouldn't hear the improvement that I do from the Allnic through the Ayre.  

My Croft pre-amp is excellent and has an excellent phono stage built in .
Mr, Croft makes every one himself and everything is all hard wired and 5 12AX tubed .
2300 $ . I’ve only seen 1 on here in years . 2 years on here I got
a mint 2 year old trade-in from a dealer for $1400.He wanted 1700$.

Best pre out of the forty or so ones I’ve had in 40 years.
Only one close was the Eastern Electric Avant .

Thelad, do you think you may upgrade the table sometime in the future? If so a quality phono would make sense. 
If not perhaps a better cart would be in order first.

Elliottbnewcombjr's comments are well worth following.

what is more important, your brain or your heart?

$150 phono stage and $500 phono stage can be absolutely the same, but with different label and different box. Price is nothing in this case (in this category at least) and can’t be a guide.

I agree. There is always an exception. Same thing applies to any audio gears. There is always a giant killer.
But from my limited experience, I have not had $150 phono stage that sounds as good as $500 phono stage. I'd appreciate it if you recommend me a few. I am in need of at least one more phono preamp and I don't want to spend more than a couple of hundred dollars. My current phono stages are Yaqin MS12B, MAGI Phonomenal, and Phono stage in Plinius M16P preamp. $150 phono stage that sounds close to Yaqin would be nice.