Best budget $100 - 200 Phono Pre-amp?

I agree with Nrenter and Viridian: The Musical Fidelity X-LPS is a great inexpensive phono pre. I had one on loan from a dealer two years ago while I waited for a Krell KPE Reference to arrive. It was very smooth, detailed and dynamic, much better than the Parasound ph100 I hed been using up to that point. Plus it has the small military tubes to ptovide that great bloom and warmth quality.

I an mot an expert but, if you dare with the DIY, I'v seen what seems to be quite good. Just go to the following page:

http://www.tnt-audio.com/clinica/indiscreto.html

You also have an english version of the page
Is a solid state pre phono, if you want ia a vacuum tube preamplifier here you have one:

http://www.tnt-audio.com/clinica/ta/mwpre.html

good luck

Bellari's VP-129 tube preamp - about $160 new.
Single 12AX7 preamp tube. It has a switchable rumble filter and signal mute as well as a 1/4" stereo out for headphones. Nice review from HiFi+ last month. A little utilitarian in styling. Color - Fire Engine Red.

How can one tube handle two channels? (VP-129)
Art

Artmaltman,
As I understand it, and audiogoner "Newbee" might be better at explaining it, the symmetrical structure of a vacuum tube allows for addressing two distinct signal paths. In the case of the VP-129, one would have to count on a high degree of structural symmetry between the two halves for channel balance.