Preamp for VPI Prime 21 turntable $300-800

@classicalguy

The problem is that everything is dependent upon everything else in your system and your own preference regarding presentation. I had a knowledgeable sales rep from a large internet vendor help me with advice. We decided to start with a $2400 Southerland preamp that was well reviewed, but it just didn’t make me happy in that I’m pretty demanding with regards to the reproduction of the human voice. I was looking for the detail of a good solid state phono preamp with some of the tonality of a good tube pre. Most importantly, I was looking for this in my system and my room. So, a good place to start is with a dealer you trust with a no questions asked return policy and hopefully a dealer that will give you a bit of a discount. I finally got what I wanted after upgrading my power, phono preamplifier, interconnects, turntable and cartridge, My dealer helped me throughout, except for the phono preamp. The one we wanted was on COVID back order. I ended up with exactly what I wanted by buying used via a dealer on this forum… but that’s another story.

VPI Shyla is essentially an Audio Technica ART series OEM cart. That being said, arguably  it's  a "sleeper" that is good as $3K+ models. With a good phonostage will sound like one too.

Your table/cart deserves a proper phonostage starting at $2500+ or so. Don't cheap out-you'll only be disappointed as to why you spent so muich on your setup and wondering what the fuss is about.

Something used originally up to $5K can found for half.

Of course it's all subjective, so you might hear something under $1K that sounds fine to you.

Precision Fidelity C2 tube preamp. I had a C7 back in The Days of Yore - $500! The phono stage to beat then was the new PS III from Paul & Stan. The C7 sounded so much better I traded in the PS III. The C7 was a tube phono stage (cascode circuit), no high-level stage and a selector switch/pair of 5Kohm pots on the front panel. The C8 added a transistor high-level stage.

The designer of the Precision Fidelity preamps was Bruce Moore. He also designed the Paragon 10, 12 and E preamps. Bruce went on to found MFA (Moore, Frankland , and Associates) specializing in tube gear. I think that the Moore tube gear can compete sonically with today's expensive - and overpriced - tube gear.

I have a copy of the Paragon 12 that Trevor Lees built in small quantities in Australia. Real nice tube preamp with two outboard power supplies - one per channel!