Can anyone recommend a Phono Pre Amp?

The Dynavector is very good. In a completely different league and around $1k used (if you are lucky) is the Vacuumstate JLTI. Way more resolution than almost any phono stage up to $6k - I directly compared the Rhea, Sutherland Ph.D., Slee, Wright, ARC PH3SE. Also, the JLTI has more flow and a more solid foundation than the Dynavector.

A good friend has both, the Aqvox and the JLTI and he thought the Aqvox is good but not close to the JLTI. IMO the only phono stages that are close in resolution are the Pass Xono, Rossner & Sohn Canfofer ($8k). Haven't heard the Xanden or Boulder yet.

Audiofeil, I didn't think the JLTI is at all grainy or edgy on top. However, the JLTI is high bandwidth and appears much more extended than most phono stages at first listen. It opens the soundstage deep into the corners reproducing a lot of the acoustics of the recording studio/hall. Also, the power supply is pretty sensitive and the sound changes quite a bit depending on where it is plugged in. The main shortcoming I find with the JLTI is that it doesn't quite have the strong tonal colors you get with top tube phono stages or even the Xono. Tonal colors could seem a little bleached at times. In terms of spatial resolution and image separation it is difficult to beat.

We tried the Graham Slee Era Gold Mark V and is fairly average in resolution for it's price and not quite in the league of the JLTI or some of the other we tried. One comparison was using the Graham Slee Era Gold Mark V with a Lundahl step-up and a Lyra Argo cartridge. The other was MM only with a Dynavector 10x5 cartridge. On the MC with Lundahls the Slee did not have the spatial resolution, dynamics or to end extension that make the Lyra cartridge special. Using the Dynavector the Gram Slee was pretty average sounding, not that great resolution and average soundstage width/depth. The JLTI added a lot more life, extension, and resolution to that system. In fact. the person owning the Slee sold it pretty quickly after that.

Part of the negative experience with the Slee could have been that we didn't have the Elevator around, but then in MM mode it didn't do much better.

Also some more comments for Zeal: If you are looking for a less dry sound a tube phono would be a good alternative:

ARC PH3SE has good flow and is pretty solid performer overall, although quite a bit more expensive than some of the other suggestions. It doesn't come close to the resolution, dynamics and separation between instruments off some of the solid state stages though.

A good alternative to the EAR834 is the Wright WPP200CC at $800.Both have a very tubelike sound. The Wright is more dynamic and detailed with slightly better imaging. The Arc PH3 betters both, but also sacrifices some of the tube bloom and midrange of the Wright.