High Value Phono Stages

@lewm  Your assessment is correct, and should be a encouragement to others to investigate not pursue.

The pursuit becomes most likely when confidence is in place that relied upon support has the capability to deliver what is one's expectation. 

I have not produced any electronic products from my own hands, but have been instrumental in what is a received as an End Design for a Phon', produced by others for me.

I know today, using the Branded Item commercial markets as a reference, I would not be willing to extend to the expense that is required as a retail price to acquire what I have achieved as a Bespoke Design - Commission Built purchase option.

My latest acquisition being a SS Phon' which is to be picked up early in the New Year will require a huge outlay in monies to get Branded Model that is a design that presents as a fair comparison or betterment.

I stand strong in my making known options that can be considered, investigated, and maybe realised by those interested in Audio. 

For the record, a DAC produced under very similar methods to the owned Phon's, is a reference DAC used within the local HiFi Group. 

In comparisons it has proved as a performer near parity,  or more attractive, when compared to Branded Model DAC'sthatsome have been costing between 10x to 30 x more. 

2nd the Moonriver 505 phono stage...sounds so good with a Hana Uma Red cartridge!

You are getting as many recommendations as you are posts. So I might as well throw my favorite reasonably priced phono stage out there. This one has slayed not one but two 5k+ preamps. It can usually be had under 2K at most retailers. It’s a screaming deal if found on the used market like I did.
 

SPL Phonos

If you want the smallest footprint that can have the shortest possible interconnect then the Benz Micro PP-1  VerT9 is the best thing I have heard like that. High gain, low noise and if you can do the super short phono cable it is an enormous benefit. 

I do appreciate all the recommendations. I have read a bit about almost all of them. 

One phono stage I came across is a Fosgate Signature. I know it has its fans, but I still wonder about tube phono stages. In the past I have owned a Quicksilver Full Function preamp, an Audible Illusions 3A with Gold board, the original EAR 834P, a Hagerman Coronet II, and a Musical Fidelity NuVista Vinyl. The NuVista was my favorite, and then maybe the EAR, but that was so long ago. 

As a general rule I cannot think of a tube phono stage I like, and I am not excited about having to use a separate SUT for gain. 

But the Fosgate is interesting, I wonder if it is worth a try. 

So far my favorite phono stage is this Esoteric, followed by the Liberty Audio B2B-1. I seem to be more of a solid state person for analog. Even though I ran tube electronics for decades.