"Kondo M1000 pre with phono" or "Takumi K-10 pre + Kondo M7 phono?

I can offer no guidance but what a tough choice lol you're a very lucky audiophile!

That is what in am saying: the m7 phone preamp is not in the same league as the m1000 preamp built in phono.   The m7 phono is just a basic phono stage, parts transformer are not in the same league.  Also, even that the k-10 preamp, i would not compare that to the m1000 preamp from Kondo.  I would take the m-1000 preamp built in phono from Kondo in a heart beat!  

Thank you for kind advice zipost.

Kondo M1000mkii as long as it is one of the original versions designed by Kondo-san. The newer stuff coming out of Japan with the Kondo name is not the same IMO.

Thank you very much.

I almost decided to try a stand-alone M7 phono stage (This set up was recomended by a number of audiophiles including Kondo-san himself).

My current set up is Kondo Ongaku as power amp + VTL 7.5 Refernce Preamp + Sutherland monoblock phono stage. (I use Ongaku as integrated amp without VTL 7.5 from time to time).

It is still difficult to make a decision between Kondo M1000 and Takumi K10 especially when considering "sonic value vs cost".