Phonostage recommendations under $3K


Folks,

I am looking to step up from my current Parasound ZPhono XRM (still under 60 days audition trial). To be honest, I am quite pleased with its performance, feature set and flexibility. I mean what else you can expect from a $600 phono. While I enjoyed listening to vinyl through XRM, I feel there is room for improvement and XRM may be the weakest link in my vinyl setup. And since XRM is the only phono I’ve experienced in my setup, I don’t have quite have a reference point. So what else should I be considering under $3K?

I prefer a relaxed and slightly warm sound since I mostly listen to jazz genre.

I started to put together a list list based on sound quality and flexibility with gain and impedance settings.

Parasound JC 3+ Phono Pre
Allnic H-1202
Leben RS30 EQ (requires a SUT for MC Cart)

I hear high praises on Herron VTPH-2A but it’s bit more than I would like to spend at this time.

My current vinyl setup, Thorens TD1601, ZPhono XRM, Hana ML (low output - 0.4mv), Accuphase E-650 and Tannoy Canterbury’s.

I would really appreciate some recommendations based on your personal experiences. Thank you!
lalitk
Keith is a super guy and certainly provides high value. I enjoy my 2A with Lyra feeding it. I didn’t run a super wide range of NOS thru it but generally it does not reward NOS. It does reward isolation and damping, power cord investment, IC’s and a separate power conditioner , but most tube stuff does. They do come up used.

i do have the ML you run but with a Croft RIAA-RS phono preamp, which is an insane value also. I use the genius Roger Modjeski RM-4 in front of it ( RIP RM )

somebody mentioned Jim White and Aesthetix, his gear is hyper well designed and upgrades available for a long life cycle.

have fun, enjoy the music and the journey!!!
I would add Hagerman Audio Labs.
https://www.haglabs.com/
https://www.haglabs.com/collections/phono-preamps
10 year warranty, 30-day trial. Small US company (Hawaii).
You may be pleasantly surprised. I was.
OK whatever millerdude, you can continue your wordy battle of semantics with someone else now. The VAC literally blows the Herron away. Better? And I’ll repeat the endorsement for Hagerman.
@mulveling 

The "$10K performance for $3K" theme is go-to rhetoric MC uses when referring to the Herron in numerous threads.  I can both read and comprehend.  Anyone can.

https://i.postimg.cc/5yhVmT8r/10KBS.jpg
+1, three_easy_payments. 
@mulveling,

I would ignore mc and his usual  "$10K performance for $3K" talk. In his world, any and everything he owns represents over the top high value 😂

Thanks for your post and recommendation on VAC and Hagerman.