Valve phono stage

Call Kevin at K+K audio.  This is one sharp, honest guy.  This is a guy who can discuss the balanced issue and to the sound of the caps resistors tubes etc...

You will not get Marketing hype and maybe the best deal on a musical phono stage.

Keep the arm the phono stage is alot more important.  Tubes are a great way to get real sounding music in your home.

Enjoy the ride
Tom

Chakster if you value music that sounds like music, tubes are the way to go.  If you like the way CD's sound or go after the black background nonsense, you might want spend your money on something else.

Tubes are for people who can hear and feel music.  If you want numbers then avoid tubes.  If you want a piano or trumpet or etc... to sound real with soul, well you get the idea.

12ax7 are just OK  look for some one who designed with another tube if possible.  Easy to work with but!!!!

Another little secret, see if anyone is using interstage transformer output final stage, so you can lose the nasty cathode follower. They are cheap and look good on paper but where did the music go.

I know this is not a builder forum so I will shut up now and let the regulars continue the dog fight.

Enjoy the ride
Tom