Phono Stage: Cornet3 vs Eros 2 vs Parasound Hint6

@martinman 
The complete tutorial is here:

Parts list is on her website and you can find the board on eBay just search EAR 834 clone.  Use the black board.

I built a Bottlehead Eros 2 with Sowter 1990 mounted on the chassis. I've built many Bottlehead kits over the past 20+ years. I like the great support a Mom and Pop shop like Bottlehead provides. Plus, as you know, having built the kit it's much easier to tweek it yourself. I use the Eros 2 with a VPI prime with a Soundsmith Zephyr MIMC Star. If this tells you anything, the turntable, arm and cartridge cost a lot more than the Eros 2 does.

I built and use the Eros 2 from Bottlehead with a Rega P6 with Ortofon 2M Bronze cartridge. I have been very happy with this setup. I really like Bottlehead gear. Bottlehead provides extremely good instructions for building their kits and help with troubleshooting is amply available through their forums. Most of all, I like how Bottlehead equipment sounds. Count me a Bottlehead fan boy. Most of my main system is Bottlehead. 

I have the at440mla.  I’m generally happy with the hint6 stock phono stage.  Bottle head is appealing though - I built a crack headphone amp and was impressed.  
 

The EAR seems interesting. I could find any links to the board.  Seems like you source the board from eBay?

Have you looked into modding the Bugle at all?  Op amps, power supply, key resistors and caps can make quite an improvement.  The Cornet 3 is actually on my radar if I ever build another phono stage, but honestly the modded Bugle 3  sings quite nicely with my FrankenNag 500. 

What cart are you running?

I think an upgraded EAR clone is nicer than a Cornet 3. I have about $600 in mine so it’s about three times the Cornet. I used the black board. The clone is very nice; can run with the big boys (I also have a Modwright PH9.0).

The Cornet is not quite up to the EAR but can be done for around $200, sans tubes. Not sure how I feel about the wall wart approach for tubes and it has been replaced by the Cornet 4.

I was tempted to do the Eros but in the end I went with the clone.

Already built I would go with a Darlington Labs MP-7, IMO the best value for MM under $1k.

Cornet 3 on top, EAR clone on bottom.

If you want to DIY take a look at phonoclone.com.  The MM only VSPS killed the Schitt Mani 2 and Rega Fono MM.  I use the MM/MC Emerald with my own Rega based turntable with Origin Live arm and DL-103 w/ an elliptical stylus and it sounds great.  Both can be made for under $400.  If you want to spend a bit more the Xono clone from RSTAudio.de is supposedly superb.