Budget preamp recommendation...besides Schiit.

Try to find a used Herron preamp.  Failing that, an ARC SP-6b.  The SP-6b is NOT in the same league as the Herron preamps, but it does have a nice phono stage.

Lot's of good ideas, many more expensive than the Schiit $300-850 price range.

I'll look preowned and see what hits a cord with me.

Thanks again and good day.

Mike

Topping Pre90  - very clean and balanced or single ended options with stepped relay volume control.

Audio-GD is noted for the value in their pre-amps...I have one....They sound like pre's that are TWICE the cost. Call Wally.

I have made references in the past on this forum to the Pre-Amp suggested in a earlier post in this thread.

The basic model will cost not much more than what might be what the OP expects to spend a their minimum outlay.

The follow is a copy/paste from another thread. It will show one reason why I have made the suggestion about this model.  

"One of the above KB1 owners had a Loan of a Bespoke Built KB1 at the time they were having demo's of Pre Amp's to be used with EAR Power Amp's, approx' £20000 of Pre-Amp's were home demo'd of which one was a EAR 868 and retailing at £5000. The Pre-Amp options were not limited to a Budget, the KB1 won the system owners favour, and a Bespoke Built KB1 is used in the system. 

Note: The KB1 does not do full bodied/lush as a presentation."