I need an economical but good phono preamp?

+1 on the Cambridge 640P. It was such an improvement over my previous (an Amber Model 17) that I ended up upgrading everything else to match its resolution and musicality. It's crazy how good this phono stage is for its price. I read one review that preferred it slightly over the $450 Graham Slee, so I suppose you'd need to spend $750 for the Dynavector or $925 for the Slee Era Gold to get a noticeably better-sounding unit.

11-13-08: Thegoldenear
STAY AWAY FROM THE 640P PLEASE!!!
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Thanks for your suggestions and I did purchase the 640p and the p must stand for Piece. The build quality is terrible and had nothing but hum after i hooked it up.

The occasional bad unit in any product line is inevitable. That doesn't mean that your one experience makes the whole product line categorically bad.

There are many, many satisfied customers--and reviewers--of the Cambridge 640P. According to the review I read at TNT, as well as my own experience, the 640P is exceptionally quiet, especially for the money.

If you heard lots of hum, there was probably a bad solder joint or a broken wire.

I've been using a 640P for nearly 7 months. It's dead quiet, not to mention dynamic, detailed, fast, extended, rhythmic, and tuneful.

11-21-08: Jim_liedeka
I use a Cambridge Audio 640P with a Grado Sonata cart. It sounds really good to me. It's dead quiet and doesn't appear to color the sound. I may change my mind when I get more resolving speakers but it suits me for now.

Getting a Cambridge 640P prompted me to get a more resolving cartridge AND speakers, and every upgrade has simply shown me how clean, quiet, and musical this phono unit is.

I went from a 2004 closeout Mirage Omnisat sat/sub system to a brand new pair of Mirage OMD-15 full range floorstanders. I also upgraded the amplification chain. The Cambridge did not disappoint as the resolution of its surrounding components improved.