What's A Good Upgrade From A Manley Steelhead?

Dear @rooze  : If you stretch your budget this one not only beats your Manley but it's a very hard to be outperformed phono stage:

740P Preamp | Best Audiophile Audio Preamplifier | MOON - Simaudio

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,

R.

@rauliruegas That link is to a full function preamp. I'm just looking for a phonostage, I have a good preamp.

Thanks

Rooze

I went from the Steelhead RC to the Allnic H3000 v2 some 8 years ago and never looked back. I liked the Steelhead, bought it new and used it for 4 years with a variety of cartridges. It’s very good. But the Allnic I found to be a significant step up. Comparing them side by side in my system, the choice was clear. Of course, since it is based on SUTs for MC, you need to use cartridges that lend themselves to SUTs, in general, and the ones Allnic includes specifically, and this qualifier can be somewhat limiting. Benz LPS and Gullwing, eg, are not a great match for a SUT because of their combination of lowish output and highish internal impedance, but the Benz Ebony L and TR are both excellent matches with the Allnic offerings. Many great options out there, though.

@wrm57 Thanks, I'm a fan of Allnic gear, I've had their 5000DHT preamp, A6000 monoblocks and I still have their H1202 phonostage in a second system. I don't see an H3000 on the used market but I'll keep an eye open. 

If your Steelhead is still in warranty, I do understand your not wanting to modify it, as that would void the warranty.  Fortunately for me, that was not an issue.  Also, I had the needed upgrade capacitors in my stash of spare parts, so no new money needed to be spent.  I did the work myself, so for zero cost, the upgrade was and is major.