How do I choose a phono preamp?

friends bring their cartridges here,

I can lower all 3 arms and maintain speed, and we can compare 3 different cartridges, just seconds apart (after I make some temp volume adjust marks). I listen with friends, and younger ears, to avoid 'expectation bias'.

I just met Charles Kirmuss at the NY Audio Show. He says it is unwise to play an LP again prior to letting the grooves cool overnight. I know the forces involved are tremendous, ....... so maybe I'll start on 3 different tracks on the same album, what to believe?

https://kirmussaudio.com/

I have that Goanna LP, Live Aid started in the middle of the night here, I set my VCR, it began in Australia, I heard INXS, Goanna, Dragon ... found and bought some LPs.

It seemed to me like US Garage Bands starting out, but with better/more affordable equipment. 

Patrick, given that your downstream gear is balanced, I’d recommend a balanced phono to go with. Atmasphere and BAT are two sources. There are many others, usually solid state. Capacity for more than one pair of phono inputs, if you think you’ll ever need them, resistive and capacitance loading settings, mono switch, etc are further options. If you do want balanced, then Allnic and others mentioned are off the table. I sold my CLS Is back in the 80s in order to buy CLS II. Big mistake.

Given your comments, particularly if you want to do start endgame and not a novist setup. 

I’d recommend a Linn LP12 Majik with runs around $6K. It is an excellent turntable with cartridge and can be incrementally upgraded to a very high end  machine if you want. I started in the middle and upgraded to the top. If is a wonderful table Then as I recommend a used Audio Research PH8 or higher phonostage. If I had let’s say $16K I would feel comfortablly get the turntable and spend the rest on the phonostage... they are that important. However, you could configure the turntable with an upgraded arm, or cartridge... so increasing the proportion investing in the table and less for the phonostage. I have continuously had turntables since the 1960’s.

My vinyl arm is really good. With the top of the line LP12, top of the line Audio Research phonostage, Koetsu Rosewood Signature cartridge and a custom Silent Running Isolation Platform ($3.5K, well worth it). Sounds great. Although I don’t use it because my digital end sounds as good and sometimes better (with high resolution streams)... and with access to millions of albums I never listen to my vinyl leg. If I had $16K to invest and I was you, I would improve my streaming leg. But that is me. 

Are you in the USA?

Guaranteed by SkyFi Audio, with excellent pre-mounted MC Cartridge

https://skyfiaudio.com/products/luxman-pd444-vintage-turntable-w-new-lyra-delos-mc-cartridge

The arm has a removable headshell

https://darklanternforowen.wordpress.com/2020/05/31/fr-64-tonearm-fidelity-research/

Potential for a 2nd arm later if desired. A sliding/locking plate type  can be acquired at that time/ 

The Cartridge

https://lyraanalog.com/delos.php

You could discuss a second headshell in the package, an alternate cartridge choice, or adding a 2nd arm to start if you want.

also SkyFi Audio

https://skyfiaudio.com/products/technics-sp-15-turntable-w-new-sumiko-starling-cartridge-and-epa-b500-arm

I gave my friend one of these many years ago (from Harvey’s used shelf), and installed this terrific EPA-B500 Armbase and S arm with removable headshell a few years ago. It’s a lot of flexibility in a compact single arm plinth. They are not showing the dust cover, but presumably they include it. It is rear hinged/play up or removed. Modern TTs specs compare, but do not exceed that Vintage 3 speed SP15

If desired, this is the alternate arm wand, straight/fixed cartridge, they slide sideways out of the base easily and lock in position precisely, as does the arm height