Preamp questions for new vinyl fan

"I would love to run fully balanced and have tube rectification, as I love the tube sound and staging, but it needs phono stage too. It would sweeten the SS amp and help with my digital setup
Any suggestions. I'm trying to stay around $500 or less. "

That's very unrealistic. Tube rectification is almost unheard of with anything other than vintage gear. Its not something I would worry about.

There's no guarantee that tubes will sweeten your SS amp and help with your digital setup. (Help how?) If you are having issues with those 2 pieces, fix them first. If you don't, you'll just spend more money some time in the future when you do fix them.

Balanced is not realistic given your price range. Given your setup, I don't see it making a huge difference anyway. You can get good sound with single ended gear.

I think your best shot at trying to get something that sounds OK given your budget, would be to get a good, entry level SS phono stage and mate it with a simple passive preamp/volume control. And don't use a low output cart. Use either a HOMC or a MM. I also think you should stay away from tubes for now. To do tubes right, you'll need to have a bigger budget, especially when dealing with vinyl.

I think the idea of injecting some tubes into the mix with the Consonance (especially at a great price...?) is worth a shot. Stick with a decent SS phono for now given your budget restraints. Recently saw a $450 PS Audio GCPH
Phono on audiogon, great deal! Or, have heard very good things about the Ifi Phono for even less (long break-in I've also heard).

As ZD so wisely counseled, you are asking far too much of a $500 preamp. I would recommend you find a good used preamp containing a good phono stage for that price - Agon has a ton of them for sale. But it probably will not be balanced. However, balanced is not really important in your setup, single ended is way more than good enough...

-RW-

A fully balanced preamp with phono stage for $500??? Wow, good luck finding that!

You may have a chance if you go a bit higher and look at integrated amps.

Shoot, there's a Quicksilver Full Function Tube preamp with tube rectification
plus a darn good tube MM phono for $450 on auction right now! Not balanced, but....(Disclosure, I once had 4 of these! Still have two. Love 'em.)