need advice for budget preamp for Rega p3-24...

I saw a demo PS GCPH on Music Direct on clearance for a great price--plus you would get the warranty. I love mine.

I use the Bellari with my P5, and that is a good combo. However, the only other one I have had in my system was the Project Tube Box SE, which was nowhere near as good, especially for full scale orchestra/opera.

You might consider the Parasound Zphono -- I bought on a lark, because it was inexpensive, and was surprisingly impressed -- so much so that I eventually bought its big brother, the JC-3, to serve as my primary phono stage.

Your comments indicate that you will probably be purchasing remotely. If so, the Zphono and the Cambridge Audo units are all available from Audio Advisor, which offers a thirty-day return policy, which would let you pick one and audition it in your own home.

Not a bad idea actually...buy ALL the phono preamps from Audio Advisor and audition them for 30 days. You could generate pages of reviews and become an instantly esteemed member of the opinionista. 640P update: This is a GREAT piece of gear that sounds even better after 2 days of warmup.

I'm tempted by the delicious idea to buy ALL of the competing phono preamps from Audio Advisor (or wherever) and then doing blind a/b/c/d/e/f listening comparisons--and sending all but one back as insufficiently warm, liquid, quiet, dimensional, empathetic, forgiving, entrancing, and simpatico with my, umm, mild system.

But that would require several new credit cards. That we can't do this is one of the frustrations and defining features of this hobby, at least for someone in a Midwestern college town. Hopefully this roster of suggestions (above) will help future soul in my condition.

BTW: after bidding on a Graham Slee (and being declined), I just purchased a used Cambridge Audio 640p via audiogon for $125. Hopefully that will be a good start!