Building on Swampwalker's comments, most people today say "line stage" & "preamp" interchangably, but not some preamps also have the phono stage built in.
Also, you need to consider 2 types of cartridge, MM moving magnet, vs. MC moving coil. MM put out much larger signal than MC, and you need to make sure you get a cartridge that suits both the tonearm of the table and the phono stage.
If you consider vintage gear, any receiver or preamp from the 60s or 70s will have a phono stage built-in, most likely MM type. That will be cheapest way to dip your toe in the water.
A complete tangent, but PLEASE clean your LPs, or you won't get anywhere near the sound that LPs are capable of. Cheers,
Spencer
Also, you need to consider 2 types of cartridge, MM moving magnet, vs. MC moving coil. MM put out much larger signal than MC, and you need to make sure you get a cartridge that suits both the tonearm of the table and the phono stage.
If you consider vintage gear, any receiver or preamp from the 60s or 70s will have a phono stage built-in, most likely MM type. That will be cheapest way to dip your toe in the water.
A complete tangent, but PLEASE clean your LPs, or you won't get anywhere near the sound that LPs are capable of. Cheers,
Spencer