Pre-amp with great phonostage (tube)

electrocompaniet ec-1a - is a solid-state preamp w/an excellent fono-stage - both mm & mc. not your typical 2-d solid-state presentation. i have one i use as a back-up. not ready to part w/i at this time! doug

Rogue Audio 66 or if you want to get one of the best, The 99 is the ticket! Read the great review of the 66 in the Oct.issue of Stereophile.These preamps have awesome bass,smooth as tubes get and beat out much costlier pramps in layering and depth.Dont buy till you audition a 66 or 99! UU

I'd love to sell my CAT SL-1 Sig Mk III, and its phono stage is superb, but for lower cost I'd go for a used Anthem Pre-1. It was better than an ARC SP-15 I had at the same time, and I've heard from people who should know that it's better than Audible Illusions Modulus 3 as well.

i yust sold my rogue 99, w/magnum upgrade, plus nos ge tubes. no regrets - the cary slp98 - stock version - beats it in *all* areas. i must say that i used neither of their fono-versions, as i run an outboard fono-stage, but all sources - fono included - sound markedly better thru the cary than thru the rogue. better dynamics, better extension, especially in the bass, and a magical midrange, w/no loss of detail or transparancy. i am going to a-b the cary w/a melos music director - whichever wins, stays in my system & i'm done looking for preamps for a while... ;~) doug

The Rogue 66 is a good choice.The phono stage in mine is dead quiet.I have replaced the stock line tubes to JJ tesla.I have the stock tubes in the phono stage.I am hoping to audition a 99 soon.