Recommendations for MM Phono ~ Tube or Solid State

12AX7s provide plenty of gain but actually not much "drive". Drive is a term associated usually with current output, and the 12AX7 is puny in that department. In any case, gain is what you need and what you get with a 12AX7. Just as well you did not find a Leben; nice as the Leben may sound, it does not have enough gain even for a low-ish output MM or typical "high output" MI (which usually makes about half the output V of a typical MM). It’s fine for a cartridge with at least 5mV output and provided you also use a linestage with added gain. For a typical LOMC cartridge, even with a SUT, the Leben is problematic.

@lewm

The distinction between gain and drive is crucial, especially in circuits where driving low-impedance loads or handling higher current demands comes into play.

But I was referring to my ‘drive’ as in motivation for tube rolling. I can understand your confusion since you’re not into tube rolling..LOL!

With the right tubes, you can fine-tune the tonal balance, detail, and dynamics to suit your preferences. Since the 12AX7 is so widely used, there’s a treasure trove of options out there, from vintage classics like Telefunken and Mullard to modern production from brands like Gold Lion or JJ.

Cheers!

Softone Model 4 phono continues to improve and today marked a noticeable shift in sound, rendering more relaxed and mesmerizing sound. 

Listening to “When Your Love Is Gone”  from Ben Webster Meets Oscar Peterson - 45RPM….gave me goose bumps. This is easily one of finest performance of Ben’s career…wish there was repeat mode on my TT :-)

@lalitk   : "" 

But I was referring to my ‘drive’ as in motivation for tube rolling. ........

With the right tubes, you can fine-tune the tonal balance, detail, and dynamics to suit your preference ""

It's better an equalizer than any tube rolling strategy.

R.

Lalitk, upon re-reading your “drive” statement, I now see that it should have been obvious to me what you meant. My bad. As far as tube rolling goes, and I’ve written this many times here, keep in mind that tubes age and can change character, even get noisier, as they age. Especially in the first 50-100 hours. So what you fall in love with on day 1 may not be lasting, and two, having spent big bucks on a rare or selected tube, we all have an expectation bias that inevitably colors one’s judgement. No one is immune to that. What I do agree with is selecting the best possible tube for a given job. This means for example don’t use a 12AX7 as a cathode follower if you expect it to drive even a middling load, and don’t use a 12AU7 for gain. There are several inherently better sounding tube types with near identical electrical parameters, no matter what exotic brand of 12AU7/ECC82 one cares to name. Unfortunately there are many preamps and amplifiers that commit one or both of those sins.