$2500 Phono Stage Suggestions

i say keep the whestTWO and get a better cartridge. My son is using the whestTWO with a dynavector XX2 Mk2 and its bloody good. changing the 2M now seems a bit wrong. If you have to upgrade get a Whest PS.30R

I upgraded my Rhea to the Signature series.  I did not note any significant improvement, but bear in mind there was no direct comparison, since it was a month from the time it was sent in to the time I got it back with the upgrade.  When I needed a repair, I sent it to Aesthetix again and I was told they had another upgrade.  Since it was already at the factory, I thought I would give it a chance--a gamble, since the upgrade to the Eclipse model was $3,500.  Well, notwithstanding the inability to do a direct comparison due to the time delay, I noted an amazing improvement.  This is an amazing phono preamp.  I should note, however, that I had also changed the tubes from the stock tubes (Russian) to NOS Telefunkens.

At your price point and based on what you are looking for, I would recommend a tube-based phono stage instead of the op-amp/solid state phono stages you mention.

I have a Sutherland 20/20. It's my fourth phono stage and I don't see a further upgrade in my future. I'm using it in a system where it would be the electronic weak link. No such worries.
Its a very impressive performer.

It's been 9 years.

His budget is now $3K  adjusted for inflation.