Tube based phono stage

Reach out to Modwright. I had questions and they answered everything I could ask. Great people and you can tell the people working there have respect for Dan and Dan has respect for them. They'll even let you do an in home demo if you pay for shipping both ways. I'll eventually try one. 

Another vote for Rogue. I have the RP-1 and the phono stage built in to that pre is purdy good for the the money.
An alternative if you’re open to NOT tubes is PS Audio new Stellar Phono Stage. I think you can do a try and buy with that product as well and its right in the budget.


https://www.stereophile.com/content/ps-audio-stellar-phono-phono-preamplifier
https://www.psaudio.com/products/stellar-phono-preamplifier/

I bought the Rogue Ares Magnum(with 2 table inputs etc) on a recommendation from Robin Wyatt.

The reviews are pretty stellar. And it is well within your price range. Major bang for the buck.

If you can pull it off, I suggest the MP-3 by Atma-Sphere fully loaded with the built in Phono-Stage.  This is will eliminate interconnect cables, give you a much more transparent sound being the phono stage is closest to the volume control it will perform well above what your spending on it.

Digging up this old thread, seems lots of great suggestions here. Interested to hear more about the Chinook and potentially NVO - can any users add more?