Phono Stage Recommendation $3000

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
 

Al, thanks as always.

Tavish Audio Adagio

Another vote for the Herron--sounds terrific!! I'm not sure you will need a SUT if you chose the higher gain tube configuration (it can be ordered two ways with different gains depending on which tubes are used). Talk with Keith, he will give you the straight scoop and help you throughout the REST of you audio journey!

Dear @srafi: The worst place to introduce tubes always are tubes, don't make this heavy mistake. People recomend tubes more because they are accustom to tubes and was what the corrupted AHEE teached to all of us through the years. So people preferes because ignorance.
 Tubes makes more damage to the critical cartridge signal that any advantage.

@inna is totally wrong because that ignorance I'm talking about.

You already own Ayre electronics and you can mate it with Ayre unit:

https://www.ayre.com/p5xe.htm  

or the JC3+ that is designed by J.Curl.

The Herron comes with tubes, I repeat this technology goes against the cartridge signal.

Btw, @inna do you think that this is a serious rig or not enough for you?:

https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/615 

no tubes here.

Regards an enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,
R.