The best under $2,000 would be the Doge 8. It has an excellent line stage and a very good phono section.
At under $5,000 the Audio Horizon 2.2 is great.
At $5,000, the Coincident Technologies Linestage is as good as $20,000 linestages. The only drawback is it only has 2 inputs, ao one might have to re-think their front end. They also sell a great phono stage, but it costs about $5,500.
Under $20,000 I would opt for the Einstein The Tube Mark II. It is a great preamp and very dynamic and grit and grain-free. I have this unit and couldn't be happier. It replaced a VTL 7.5 and beats it in about every category.
The only pre-amp I have heard that I like as much is the Coincident Linestage. But the Einstein has 5 inputs instead of the 2 in the Coincident Technologies model.
At under $5,000 the Audio Horizon 2.2 is great.
At $5,000, the Coincident Technologies Linestage is as good as $20,000 linestages. The only drawback is it only has 2 inputs, ao one might have to re-think their front end. They also sell a great phono stage, but it costs about $5,500.
Under $20,000 I would opt for the Einstein The Tube Mark II. It is a great preamp and very dynamic and grit and grain-free. I have this unit and couldn't be happier. It replaced a VTL 7.5 and beats it in about every category.
The only pre-amp I have heard that I like as much is the Coincident Linestage. But the Einstein has 5 inputs instead of the 2 in the Coincident Technologies model.