Opinion of budget phono preamps?

If you are going to change your whole preamp, there are a lot of good phono stages in some pre's. Far better than the rotel, creek, etc. That is definitely the best value for the money in that price range (the stuff you mentioned). Outboards become a better value when you have already invested money, or time, into a line stage and you want to upgrade one or the other without having to buy both, or switch both.
You are on the right track. While some of the pre's you mentioned might be questionable, as far as your taste and what you expect, as blw states, these budget phono's were meant to get your records going, and they are what they are. The real bargain would be found in obtaining phono's that were really made to get you farther than that.

FWIW, I found the Camelot Technology Lancelot phonostage (a solid state battery powered unit that sells new for around $900) to best the all-tube internal one in my C-J PV8.

Thanks for the replies, guys. Yes, I recall the 565 phono stage being complimented - know anything about the 555's? My gut feel was to shy away from the very low priced stand-alones like Rotel, NAD, Creek, etc, and you've confirmed that. The more I think about it, the more I'm leaning to a standalone, since it will broaden my range of options for a preamp acquisition and future upgrades. I'm also getting more interested in a DIY project. Anyone exposed to the PH-1 in any way at all?? Here's a link for info. AES PH-1 Anyone know of any other DIY phono preamps? Thanks!

On the subject of DIY, someone told me yesterday about http://www.curcioaudio.com/sades_3.htm

Also consider the PS Audio PHONOLINK if you can find one. A very good sounding preamp on both MM and MC. Not the last word by any means, but sonically very respectable. Jallen