Good phono amp, low noise, not too expencive?

Monolithic Sound phono stage w/ outboard Dual Mono Power Supply will make the Black Cube and the Blue Circle beg for mercy. The upgraded dual mono power supply has a three stage noise filter built-in. Dusty Vawter and Greg know what they're doing...you will get bass so strong and deep that will rival a DAC.

Lists for ~$650 total (www.monolithicsound.com).

Charles, I bought the Monolithic without ever listening to it. I had a phone conversation with Greg--he's such a terrible salesman! But he spoke with enthusiasm and technical mastery of how his unit was designed and works. Kind of like an inexpensive version of a Klyne (my favorite phono preamp). I knew I could trust Greg's design...

Will you trust me on TT choice? I read in another forum that Thorsten posted in the Asylum that the Technics 1200 can be "stunning" with the proper audiophile cartridge. Yeah, Thorsten has to say it--right? My modded 1200 w/ Ortofon X5 MC, tonearm fluid damper and the Monolithic phono stage *is* stunning...People think that since the 1200 is direct drive it has a motor physically rotating the platter--it doesn't. It rotates via a magnetic field--there's no physical contact; rumble is a mere (-78 dB) and there's no transmitted vibrations from the "motor". Compare that technology with the glass and particle board units. Not a chance.

Charles:

If you want a belt drive, check out the factory refurbished SOTAs. I would go for a Sapphire. If you search the posts, you'll find out that Sean is very fond of SOTAS--and so am I. They are made here in Chicago Metro. They have an unbelievable suspension!