I am also looking for a reasonable Phono Stage, I have a Technics SL1500c TT with an Ortofon 2M Blue Cart, am using the internal Phono Stage on the TT but it seems to lack mid range and a tad bright for me, am a bit sensitive to that, I did try the Phono Stage in the SR7015 but the sound stage sounded compressed.
Price wise looking around $600 NZ Dollar its not a lot with our exchange rate.