How much difference does a phono preamp really make?

If your cartridge is NOT good enough, it will not make a difference.

If your cartridge IS good enough, any phono amp over $1000 will NOT make a difference. You will not hear any difference.

Spend about $1000 MAX for a cartridge and maybe at most another $500 MAX for your phono amp and you will be set.

@cakyol 3
I had to read this twice to make sure I didn't misinterpret. Then I just about fell off the chair. I'm sure you were fooling with us, but please come back and confirm, lest we think otherwise. 

+1 @ozzy62 

to the OP, this is a great thread with some very solid experience and as you noted diversity of opinions. Personally i believe given a competent table and arm, cart matters most. The TT you have IMO on an isolating base like an HRS can take you far on the vinyl journey…very far. I have a Herron that i use with Vandy Treo CT, but feel you should consider the Hagerman. Also, super important you join the Vandy owners forum on the Vandy website. Lots of analog nuts there. You can see my vintage setup on the virtual systems page, every now and then a pair of 1ci make it into the mix, they are capable of amazing sound. Finally @mulveling should be on your sane, experienced and trusted list here on Audiogon

have fun

add Croft RIAA to your list, with a few nice tubes from Andy at Vintage Tube services, with your cart will knock your socks off….and meet your budget of $1,500

There is one in here somewhere……

https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/7106

@tomic601 you are too kind, but thank you! Some others here have far more experience and know-how than I ever will! Though I'll surely keep being an analog enthusiast to my dying day.