Phono Stage Recommendation $3000

Used Cary Audio PH-302 mk ii

4 ea 6SL7 tubes plus a 5AR4 rectifier tube
variable loading
MM input plus MC input 

dead quiet and very musical 

can be fitted with an outboard power supply 

Sorry if this may seem off topic but I’m also looking for a phono stage but at a lower price bracket. That said, I’m wondering why no one asked about the downstream gear, e.g., what line stage preamplifier or amplifier, etc. Why is that?

My understanding is because phono stage, tonearm, cartridge, and turntable together as a source component alone.

Understood but shouldn’t the matching between the phono stage and the downstream line stage preamp and power amplifier be a consideration?

Hello Kalali,

Your question is a good one, but I believe it has a good answer.  The OP mentioned in the initial post that he uses an Ayre KX-R line stage.  The KX-R has an extremely high input impedance of 1 megOhm single-ended or per phase balanced, which no reasonably designed phono stage will have a problem driving.  (John Atkinson's measurements in Stereophile essentially confirmed that number, btw). 

Also, the KX-R provides an independent gain adjustment for each input covering a range of 0 to +6 db.  Finally, as stated in its manual:

...there is a single resistor per channel that sets the overall gain range. This gain resistor is mounted in a terminal block and can be changed without the need for soldering. 

So compatibility with what would be downstream of any of the phono stages that have been suggested shouldn't be an issue in this case.

Best regards,
-- Al