Cart / Phono preamp for Technics SL-5200

Thanks everyone. I was hoping to successfully cheap out with the AT95e, but I'll spring for the 120. Can anyone vouch that it soundly beats the Ortofon I had previously?
About the CA - I'm just not a huge fan of their products in general. I'm not really looking for a NAD, either. I've heard a strong recommendation for the new MH ph1.2 - it doesn't look like the Phono Box to me?! There's also a Rotel or 2 on here now for a hun'erd bucks, so I could get that and the 120 and meet my goal of <$200.

Music Hall used to take the guts of the phono box with a few minor mods and market it as their phono pre.

I find it hard to belive they're not still doing the same thing with their strong analog ties to Pro-Ject. Roy Hall is a master of cherry picking parts off the shelves of existing manufacturers like Pro-Ject and Shanling and building solid equipment from it. That's exactly what he's done with Music Halls relationship with Pro-Ject.

That all being said, I'm sure the Music Hall pre performs well for the price but I've not heard a phono-pre yet in the $150 range that bests the CA regardless of the source of you dislike for the company.

Just bought a Grado Red for $65. That leaves $135. Now considering the Rotel 970BX. btw, noticed the original Music Hall phono pack looks exactly like a Tonar (off-brand???) pre - not so much like the Pro-jects I've seen. My source for the MH ph1.2 recommendation notes that it's a little better than the original phono pack. Then there's the modded CA 540p up for sale now. Also (Petsound, please tune in) considering the TCC TC-760LC from phonopreamps dot com.

Well, it's done. I bought the Rotel. The tt, cart, and preamp for an even $200. Hope the Grado doesn't hum, but if not I think I could have done worse for the money.

This is the strangest thread ever - and I mean that with no offense, but you're asking for advice and, I don't know - kind of doing your own thing anyway!

Have you paid for the Grado Red, can you get out of it? It's going to hum like a SOB on your direct drive Technics. They're also very sensitive to the arm you put them in and are horrid trackers if not matched perfectly right. If I had to guess, the Technics arm is probably around 12g and it's not going to be a good match. I hate to be the one to tell you all this - but I wish you had of posted before pulling the trigger on it.

The AT95E @ $49 new or the AT120E/T Ekobesky and I recommended at $79 would have been a much safer bet. The Grado sound is very much a love it or hate it thing - have you heard one?

The 540P is an okay stage, nothing great compared to the 640P. Roy Hall told me personally that the original MH MMF Phono Pack was a Pro-Ject Phono-Box with some minor upgrades and a different case. Just like the MMF tables are Pro-Ject parts on a different plinth. I'm willing to bet that the new one is the same deal - with a nicer case. By all means - believe what you want though.

Good luck with all of this!