Phono Preamp Selection


I have no idea of which Phono Preamp I should purchase.  I read the reviews from Audio Science and the author provides testing criteria and results for Phono Preamps. I do not have a awesome system - rather it is just a nice system. I reviewed (Pro-ject Phono Box DC MM/MC  / Cambridge Audio Duo / IFI Zen / Schitt Skoll ). My turntable is a MoFi with a Hana MC Cartridge. 500.00 is my budget as I am just a listener of old vintage records.  My amp is a Denon and my speakers are bookshelf Triangle(s). Appreciate your time and responses.

smerk

I ended up getting the Gold Note PH-10 with the PSU-10 power supply. The PH-10 offers all the settings you will need and they are on the fly. Very good value for a high end phono preamp.

I compared a MOON 110 vs the internal stage on my Rogue RP-1.  The MOON was not significantly better than the RP-1 so I did not purchase.  But the the RP-1 phono is well regarded for its price point.  Occasionally the MOON pops up on USaudiomart for ~$300.  That would proly be a bang buck solution. 

I have heard Jolinda equipment, although not the phonostage. Sounded great to me, natural and musical. I think they went out of business in 2017. But, I’m not sure that would stop me. Well made high end simple devices like phonostages should last decades and should be sevicable by any good audio technicians.

Personally, this probably gives you a real discount. I personally would take it over a Sim any day. I used to own some Sim equipment, looks nice, built well, not very musical.

“ I used to own some Sim equipment, looks nice, built well, not very musical.“
@ghdprentice 

I was just thinking that other day when I returned a $12K tube phonostage. Looked amazing, built well but not very musical. I mean it sounded nice but nothing like something that draws you into music immediately. I’d experienced that instant immediacy with Shindo, Accuphase, New Audio Frontier to name a few. When you know what to listen for, you know it right away :-)