I have a Clearaudio Balance (not the Plus and not the Reference). After comparing it to many phono stages, I find it to be truly excellent for both a Benz Ebony LP and a Shelter 90x, low-output MC straight-in. Plenty of gain and totally quiet. Also, very clean, lively, dynamic, great low bass, smooth but also detailed highs, and warm convincing midrange. I cannot find any fault at all with its sound, into a passive (transformer) preamp, tube amps, and electrostatic speakers. Its balanced outputs are noticably more lively and dynamic that its RCA outputs, which I believe is the nature of fully differential circuitry.
