Suggestions for phono preamp for LOMC's

I'm using a Sutherland TZ Vibe with a Hana ML moving coil cartridge.  I think it sounds excellent and it's well under your budget. 

Phono stage might be more important than TT/arm.

If I had $10k in TT/Arm I would be looking at something like an Allnic H5500  or Sutherland Duo minimum.

I would consider a $2500 phono stage a bottleneck.

Check out he recent thread on SUTs. There you will find mention of good high gain phono stages that are compatible with LOMC cartridges. Also I suggest you read up on “gain”, the meaning of db, etc, so you can calculate how much gain is enough for a given cartridge. That quantity also depends upon linestage gain, amplifier input sensitivity, and speaker efficiency. 
 

The TZ Vibe is a current driven device. Such devices work best with LOMC cartridges that also have a very low internal resistance, usually less than 10 ohms. So before you purchase a current driven phono (there are others besides the Vibe) be sure you want to limit yourself to compatible LOMC cartridges.

Thanks for the replies.   Some get ideas.  Keep them coming!

Nothing wrong with a gold note consideration. Can always upgrade it with separate PS. Lots of options also on the fly. 

I use a PS Audio Stellar phone pre with an Ortofon Quintet Black cartridge on a Technics SL-1200G TT.  I’m quite happy with that combination.  I may upgrade to a better cartridge, but I have no intention of changing my phono pre or TT.

PS Audio has a very good 30 day return policy. The Music Room has used ones for $1,899.  

I’ve used the Manley Chinook with my Sumiko Blackbird Lo with great results. It has very dark background and very adjustable. I have the same tubes it came with when I purchased it new in 2018 and no desire to change them out, still sounds really nice. 

I suggest you look at the Lounge Audio LCR MKIII Gold with their Silver step-up amp for MC cartridges.  That combo would be a bit under $1500.  I have the MKIII Gold with a MM cartridge, and the SQ is simply stunning, especially when I spin one of my 1980s Sheffield LPs or one of my 45 rpm LPs from that time.  Hand made right here in the USA, in the Los Angeles area.

McIntosh MP100 Phono Preamp offers Moving Coil and Moving Magnet adjustable loading (6 settings each); balanced and unbalanced analog outputs; optical, coax and USB digital outputs; and a Mono switch for playing mono records to decrease noise and play the signal correctly.

~$1,700 or so new: https://www.mcintoshlabs.com/products/preamplifiers/MP100

Gold Note

My recommendation is to get a phono preamp designed specifically for LOMCs. Over the years I have pretty much limited my phono cartridges to the low output variety because they seem to sound best in my system.  The phono preamp I use is the Paradox Phono 70 Signature.  This unit replaced one in my system that cost $6K and bested it by no small margin.  Good luck in your search.

I second the suggestion for a Chinook. I recommend keeping an eye out on all the "sites" for one that has a set of upgrade opamps in it. 

@lubachl  That's true of the Sutherland TZ Vibe.  

A Modwright SWP 9.0 SE, an older discontinued model, is specifically designed for LOMC cartridges and is an excellent American made tube unit. Dan Wright, the founder and owner, is accessible and helpful. Used units fit within your budget. You can also look for used or demo units of the newer models, but they will likely exceed your budget. Highly detailed, quiet without an excessively “tubey” sound. Great frequency extension at both top and bottom and natural instrument timbres. The Music Room is a dealer and occasionally has used units as owners move up to more costly models. 

When one uses the phrase,” specifically designed for MC cartridges”, what does that mean? I assume it means that the phono stage has gain sufficient to allow the use of a low output moving coil cartridge without the need for a step up transformer (at least 60 db gain). This is in contrast to phono stages that have a built-in step up transformer for LOMCs, driving a moving magnet (low) gain stage (typically 40-50 db). Is that correct?

@ bobheinatz

If I were in the market for a Phono-Pre, I would ask for advice, read reviews and make a SHORT LIST OF UNITS TO DEMO.

Because the transducer (cartridge) feeds the phono-pre, it may even more important to  to demo phono-preamps than line-stages and amps (yes, these are also demo-ing, if possible).

That being said, I am very happy with my Zesto Andros, which I have had for many years (I have no affiliation).  In fact, I may upgrade to a newer Andros version in 2025. 

You should be able to find a good, used Andros in your stated budget.  Add $150 for four new tubes, and you should be satisfied for many years to come.

Best of luck with the search.

@lewm 

Good question.  The Phono 70 has 70 db of gain and it is my understanding that it is not a good match for anything >.5mV output.  The designer of the unit stated it was specifically designed for LOMCs, primarily in the .2 mV to .5 mV range.

With my prior phono preamp I had to crank the volume up fairly high to achieve a reasonable volume level with my .2mV Ortofon cartridge.  Not so much anymore.

Great suggestions from everyone.   I am researching all options listed here.  Thank you very much.  Keeping them coming. 

Not enough gain is often a problem with the lowest output of LOMCs, like less than 0.3mV @ 5cm/sec.  However, I cannot recall ever having a problem with too much gain, if we restrict the discussion to LOMC cartridges and MC inputs. And what most forget is to add in any gain from an active linestage.

Another Allnic recommendation here. Their new step up transformer uses silver windings, which is an audible enhancement.

I am using the Sun Valley Phono EQ which is a kit (though you can pay to have them assembled) with a Lundahl SUT and it sounds absolutely incredible. I also have a Hagerman Trumpet (with an upgraded power supply), Bottlehead Eros and a Pete Millett LR Phono stage I built and the Sun Valley blows them all away.