Manley Steelhead vs others.

If you are looking for a unit that you can use as a stand-alone preamp like the Steelhead, the Art Audio Vinyl One Copper Reference would be a good choice.  You can add a remote volume control and it will serve as a full fledged preamps. It is intended to be used with one table unlike the Manley.  

You up will find an older review that compares it to the Steelhead.  It fell a hair short at the time but has since been upgraded in terms of power supply and the “copper reference” edition has Silver Foil caps.  

Thanks this is a great help. Sounds like really good choices. Will look into them all.    

Very few phono stages have the option of acting like a full function preamp like the Steelhead. The Steelhead has very few peers in that regard. 

Herron, for sure. Good luck finding one used though! The Herron is a keeper so not many out there and when there are they get snapped up fast, because... the Herron is a keeper!

I would just give Keith a call, have him build you one. That's what I did, just over a year ago. Very happy I did!

The Allnic H3000 and Herron VTPH get consistently stellar reviews like the Steelhead.  All outstanding — pick your flavor. 

ModWright PH-150 Reference Phono is an option to consider. Tubes but very quiet. I like that it has front panel controls like the Steelhead, although it’s more of a pure phono pre, whereas the Manley can serve as a full pre if I recall correctly. Dan Wright is an excellent resource and has been helpful with advice and support.