PS Audio Stellar Phono -vs- Manley Labs Chinook

Uberwaltz, The basic circuit comes in modules. The big unit uses 20 of them to lower the signal to noise ratio requiring a much more elaborate power supply which is battery in both cases. The L20 has the lowest signal to noise ratio of any phonoamp out there by quite a margin and the little guy is better  than most. 
With the Channel D units you also get the option of bypassing the RIAA compensation. Then you can use their program Pure Vinyl for playback and record your albums to files. Michael Fremer uses Pure Vinyl to do this. You can add vinyl songs to your playlists and use the files to compare various remasters and such. Some people say digital RIAA correction is better than analog, less distortion and Phase shift. I have Pure Music which is part of Pure Vinyl. I think it is better for Apple users than JRiver. This program plays back any digital file and upsamples everything to 24/192. It will also do DSD. I have been debating getting one of their units.

With it being a current amplification phono though it will not be for everyone, not sure as I own any carts that would work exceptionally well on it. Some that would be ok but possibly not great.
However for anybody wanting to try out current amplification method it sure sounds like a bargain.

Mijo, I think you will find that Raul is of one mind, when it comes to solid state vs tubes.  And you won't change him.  I also own his J&R Phonolinepreamp, and it is actually a superb piece, all SS of course. When I say "his", I mean that Raul and a friend, who is an EE or a qualified designer, created and sold the unit, back about 10 or more years ago.  Top quality construction, very thoughtful and cost no object design.

I purchased the PS Audio Stellar in early March after two years of research and listening at dealers to other phono preamps.  Those included the ARC Reference 6, VdH Grail, VTL and Pass top of the line phono preamps.  I was replacing my beloved tubed Jadis DPMC.  After reading (three times) Micheal Fremer’s very positive review of the Stellar I thought a $2,500 phono preamp and he was comparing it to his two $50+ units maybe I need to give it a listen.  What did I have to lose with a free 30 day in home trial.  
When the Stellar arrived I had everything set up to compare it with the Jadis....which never happened.  Within 10 seconds into the first cut on the first LP it was easy to hear that the Stellar’s performance in every sonic characteristic was better or superior to the Jadis.  I could go on for pages describing the sound that pours through the Stellar but let me just say that I listen to music everyday for 2 to 3 hours and when the Jadis was in the system I listened to LP’s about 75% of the time.  Now I listen to LP’s about 95% of the time.

I just finished a trial of a Sutherland 20/20 with LPS and a Stellar Phono.  I bought the Stellar.  It is absolutely terrific and similar to randypeck, I can't stop listening to vinyl with it. With a 30 day free trial, $2,500 retail and up to 30% off on a trade in of a working clunker audio product (net $1,700), there is no risk in a trial and an absolute bargain.