best phono stage under 10k

lewn- totally agree with you, I bought a phono pream balanced audio technology and it was a headache for me, I could never remove the noise, I had zesto, ayre, parasound jc3, cary, I just want to buy something better, and keep it for a long time.
what phono preamp do you recommend?

That's why I said call Keith Herron. The Herron does have tubes but its not tubes that are the problem, the problem is RFI, most of which gets in somewhere along between the cartridge and the end where the phono leads connect to the phono stage. Somewhere along in there, more often than not.
I don't know that I'd say the Herron is particularly warm, but mine sure sounds awfully good. Don't discount it just for being so cheap either. If you can have $10k performance for $3k what's not to like?

Sax, go with a reputable company that has been around for a while. You like warm? Go for an Audio Research PH 9. You will never look back and will never need another phono amp. 

I bought a phono pream balanced audio technology and it was a headache for me, I could never remove the noise, I had zesto, ayre, parasound jc3, cary, I just want to buy something better, and keep it for a long time.
what phono preamp do you recommend?

Does it need to be a stand-alone phono section? Do you want it to be balanced?

millercarbon 

Thanks for the recommendation, I will get in touch with Keith, I don't have any problem with the cost, the expensive is not always necessarily good