Should I purchase an expensive phono preamp

EJCPA
A very popular item on A'Gon which sells mopst often within a day is the EAR MM or MM/MC tube unit.Selling new from $1K to $1500 it sells used for $700-850.It allows experimentation with different NOS (New Old Stock) tubes.Another one in the range is the acoustech which won many awards and you have it on your list (none of my thoughts go above this.Other than a few like the $2800 Krell it seesm like the market gives choices up to $1500 than jumpos to $4K and over.At $1500 the Conrad Johnson tube unit is very warm and fine unit.Lower in price spectrum the Lehman Cube for $500 or so.The Graham Slee is an excellently reviewed line as well.But I am being a tube guy I might suiggest between Joilda who just came out with a tube unit at a killer price of $450.Too new for reviews but at price from a company known for good value I don't think you can't lose.I might have bought it but I have a table with an arm that allows for quick change of arm/cartidge so even though I am a tube guy (have an EAR intergated) I am going to get $1K PS Audio.Has flexiblity to change loads easily on back (many including expensive ones require you to open hood to change Dip switches).But also has volume (if you even wanted to go staright into an amp.Also allows for precise input matching geting gain higherst before distortion) as well as mono and phase button on front (not all LP's are made in absolute pahse so on some recordings can make big diference).Think it's a bargain at $1K.But in a hi end system (or any for that matter) the caretidge and phono section effect sound more than turntable and arm.If you step up from a reciever (as good as that one is) your going to have comesurate gear when you do.But in mean time it should sound much beter than the recievers stock unit.Tubes also rolling (changing) and that can be fun to experiment with.But your list of $1500 and less is pretty complete with excellent choices.After 3K hours or when bug bites write back about catridges and sperates or an intergared amp!Great thing about this hoby is you can never stop upgrading but there is a point where the retuirnbs diminish to the point where you don't HAVE to upgrade and can buy gobs of (now) overpriced original LP's on Ebay and get what has become too nutty on CD/SACD/DV-A and what ever new fangled replacement they come out with.
Have fun.
Chazzbo

Saw a Graham Sleee "Buy It Now" for $375 on ebay and think this may be comessurate with A'gonm prices.That Cary suggestion is a pip as well.But as said just to see where Hifi is probably going check out PS Audio site for the stage also for tech going inton new digital gear in their amps and integrateds (which ar e cool in that you can defeat either amp or line section to ad another peice without having to get rid of integrated in one fel;l swoop).Wish I knew how Pioneer stacked up sound wise.All I know that is they are heavy and well made but that does noit mater when the lights are out.But when you get into receiver or it's components you rae hearing character and capablities of the amp and always thought it should be chosen for speakers which I don't think you mentioned.There are some pre's that have EXCELLENT phono section so if that's a possible upgrade soon you might buy new equipment later and find excellent seperate (which requires interconnect and it's characteristics) might be equaled or betered by section in pre.May confuse issue but it is part of total picture.On other hand you could get a great pre like say new $4500 G'luck

Give us ome idea of what you like about what you have and what you don't Also unltimate transducer is your speakers.I know it is sophisticated to say that you can use lesserr speakers "That's it's only the kids at Circut City or Best Buy" who say "It's all in the speakers and you should put 50% or more into them" I disagree with those who don't realize it is the ultimate transducer and DOES have greatest effect on sound (all other elemensts being frozen).I am skeptic about gear cables,mods,but have had many work out well and be worth investment .Much other is snake oil.But as ususal I digress.
You haven't let us know what you have in total and a strategy you have for your system..Hate to be blunt but maybe your speakers ARE crap and needs to be swapped out with reciever.And speakers should be decided on first and one chjooses amplificatiion needed from them.I am amazed foten at folks who ay "Im just bought a pair of $10K tube monoblocks and want speaker reccomendations for them".This to me is Bass ackwards.For the mid fi crowd the Elite stuff is pretty good and with their $500 speakers and does a fine job.But given the rest of your ig and given folks are telling how to spread your money around you should let us in on what speakers they are using.Tell us if you like them,the receiver (even if we pooh pooh it it's your ears and given the resty of your rig you show good judgement and ability to assesss).But diference between $200 and $1500 phono depends on what else you have,.how you think it sounds,and how you might upgrade any companonenet receiever or speaker and how you want to go about it.Might be you are spending what you can in a building block fashion and leting us know this helps.But if you want to get the rig complate and BALANCED we would need to know what speakers you have and any plans to relave anything what you can spend and when.Know this was long wided but as I have said in many of my postsbrevity isn't my strong suit.But re-reading the post up to this point it seemed top be full of holes.
Best
Chazz

Chazz