Building my 'first' system - Advice on Phono preamp please

@millercarbon.
+1 I got an ARC PH3 later upgraded to SE for about the same amount of time... I had first tried “highly reviewed” less expensive ones and was incredibly disappointed. Finally made enough money and purchased  a ARC PH8, kept it for about ten years and now I have a ARC Ref 3... a fantastic journey (once I stretched and got my first ARC PH.

I did NOT want to spend $2500 on a phono stage. And remember this was back in 1995 or thereabouts, back when $2500 was real money! I tried Lehman Black Cube, EAR 834P, on and on, at least 8-10 different phono stages- all home auditioned. Several months if not a year of this until finally broke down and tried the ARC. Thus I learned in one fell swoop both just how critically important a phono stage is, and how unimportant and misguided it is to give the common advice of having all components around the same level of cost/performance. 

Dynamic, The used Profect will do fine just be prepared to get new tubes. Order them from Upscale Audio or RAM Audio. Both test all their tubes and grade them so you know exactly what you are getting. On a phono preamp you do not want to skimp on tubes. Get the quietest ones you can afford. I highly recommend these https://upscaleaudio.com/collections/preamp-tubes/products/gold-lion-ecc83-b759?variant=295304225096... if you can afford them. There are less expensive tubes available. As long as you stick to "Kevin's Stash" you will be fine.

Thank you all for your thoughtful advice...glad I asked!

As you can tell, I'm not that experienced with analog and wasn't sure where the phono preamp should sit within the chain. 

@millercarbon I really appreciate you're insight on not having all components around the same level of cost/performance AND about static system...so true.


My gut tells me to save a bit more then audition the best Space Tech Labs tube phono I can afford and go from there.


Is the Rega Planar 2 a reasonable entry point to TTs?

Yes, absolutely.