www.avahifi.com OmegaStaar EX ss or Ultra SL or EC Hybrid SL will keep the price down, superb STUFF. Way beyond it's mortal prices

The Audible Illusions Modulus 3A is probably a good choice. It has a built-in phono section. As I recall, it inverts polarity, so you'll have to switch your red and black speaker leads.

There were some thoughts posted on it in an earlier thread:

http://forum.stereophile.com/forum/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=9571&an=0&page=5

Jeff Rowland has a new "cheap" pre-amp.Do check their site.

MAF,

One potential option is a passive pre-amp if your speakers are fairly efficient (above 87db). Passive preamps are often overlooked and some believe that all passive units will slaughter dynamics and have limited bass. The Simaudio Moon I5 had a passive preamp section yet it sounded fantastic.

Last year I switched from a passive Rotel Michi preamp to a Simaudio Moon P5/PSP. Most audiophiles thumb their noses up at Rotel anything but the change in sound was not drastic. The passive unit was not only very good but it was significantly cheaper. I would have been perfectly happy to continue with the Michi but my Totem Mani-2s are very inefficient.