I am using a Nagra VPS phono preamp. My tt is an Avid Acutus with SME V and a Benz Micro LP MC cartridge outputting 0.3mV. Connection from the tt is a Siltech Avondale phono lead then Crystal reference rca into the back of my Meridian 808i.2.
The Nagra is, imo, a great phono preamp. It has that slight tube sound giving a majestic midrange which is what i like. But it is not as tubey as, say an aesthetix Rhea or Audio research PH7 which were the other contenders before I bought the Nagra.
Not sure what MSRP in the US is but with the cheapish Euro, I am sure you could get it down to 5k or so. Toneaudio has quite an indepth review of it.
howie