Phono Stage, How much do I need to spend, New or used.

If you expect the room to be filled like digital does, do NOT use vinyl. a CD can have up to about 96 db of dynamic punch whereas, on vinyl, you will NEVER get more than at best about 72 db. It is just the limitation of the media and physics. All other things being equal, you can spend $50,000 on a phone stage and or $10,000 on a cartridge and nothing will change. Digital will ALWAYS win on dynamic range and room filling.

Some audiophiles may disagree with me.  Let them.  Physics and your own ears will prove it to you.

I have a Phono Box RS ($1000). It is excellent and often looked over.
Get the outboard power supply for it ($700)... don't use the wallwart. It is quiet.

In that $1K price range, I would also suggest the Hagerman Labs Trumpet MC (can be used for MM carts as well w/adjustable gain). Tubes, dead quiet, and $900 (used even less). It’s a winner on value alone, let alone sq.

Speaking new prices, I think phono stage should be at least twice as expensive as cartridge. This is easy question to answer.

I started with an iphono and then moved to an EAR 834p, both used and under $1k. Good results with both. When I stepped up to the Manley Chinook SE, it was a bigger leap than going to the EAR. My vinyl outdoes my digital now, using a Hana SL and a VPI Prime. My digital is an excellent Lumin D2 with upgraded power supply. It comes quite close on hi Rez files.