If you have settled on tubes, I don't think you will welcome going back to SS, of the ones you list, the WHest seems the best value to me. I agree with Art, the EAR is great value, but can be transformed by modding it.
I am in the situation of having a good SS unit, a Clearaudio reference and am looking to go "tube" to match my 845 SET amp. I looked around and searched the Asylum and Audiogon and am going for a K&K Audio phono stage kit. I am sure I can't build it, but I will get someone else to clear up the mess after I've tried. At $1500, its great value and with the inbuilt step up, can be boosted to 64DB gain. many great tube units don't have quite enough gain i.e Conrad Johnson Prem 15, for lower output MC cartridges
I am in the situation of having a good SS unit, a Clearaudio reference and am looking to go "tube" to match my 845 SET amp. I looked around and searched the Asylum and Audiogon and am going for a K&K Audio phono stage kit. I am sure I can't build it, but I will get someone else to clear up the mess after I've tried. At $1500, its great value and with the inbuilt step up, can be boosted to 64DB gain. many great tube units don't have quite enough gain i.e Conrad Johnson Prem 15, for lower output MC cartridges