Mike, the features present in a receiver should be the deciding factor, and if you need a phono input that probably should decide it for you. Unless some other receiver without a phono input has some other features that outweigh the phono input there's no good reason to consider buying a separate phono-pre-amp, since these are trivial items from a technological standpoint and all perform their function without audible flaws.

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Enjoy the music, not the equipment.