Tube Phono Stage Recommendations

Herron VTPH-2A

I second Wings2hockey recommendation with a caveat.  I had a Hagerman, very nice stage but outperformed by the Zesto Spirit. 
The Zesto is fantastic but you would either have to double your budget to get the MC/MM version or add a step up to the MM version. It is a beautiful piece of kit even if you don’t upgrade the JJ tubes. Very sweet and yet dynamic. Best of luck…FWIW, Tavish is always backordered but usually worth the wait. 

@jay73  When it comes to the Phonostage and my having been enabled to be demonstrated many many models in use, with Circuits being SS - Valve Hybrid - Valve Input - Valve Output. I am with experience and assessments that in many cases for the designs are indelible.

I can state with no concerns, that Phonostages in certain circuitry groups are very common in sound, with subtle differences, usually differentiated by a particular frequency range having a little more prominence. This is in my experience very common for the SS and Valve Hybrid Design. The Valve Input - Valve Output models are usually quite different from the offset, Valves, Tranx's, Rectification methodology creates these differences that can be quite noticeable. The next consideration is the Richness of Tone. When the Tonal Trait for the Phonostage  id with a Bloom and very Heavily Laden, this for myself is a detractor, when noticed, which is usually with immediacy, it is quite unattractive and becomes the focal point of the End Sound. My personal preference for Richness of Tone is where the Tonal Trait is seemingly Transparent, and it takes a comparison to a SS Phonostage to really show that thinking of the Valve Phon' being transparent is a misjudgement.

Also note: Within the Three Circuit Types used for Phonostages there are also the designs that stand out as being exceptional, to find them through description in a Post within a Thread is not going to place you with anything valuable for making discoveries that can changes ones thoughts for ever.

As stated recently:    

 " What really matters is the End Sound, that is what is to be lived with and hopefully produced to a quality that meets your own personal and unique preference.

Their is a huge chance that a mathematical equation that will give you this End Sound that is for yourself assessed as being extremely attractive. Many many items as a sound assessment are rejected as not being attractive as a sound. All have a mathematical equation before them and a End Sound that follows.   

Footwork and experiences of End Sound for myself has always been the failsafe methodology to discover what is very attractive. "  

+1 on the Softone Model 4. $800 delivered from Japan to US. But check the specs as it only has three gain settings. It ain’t pretty but it sure does sound good. 

Look for a used NVO (New Valve Order) hand built in Cyprus. I've been using one for 7+ yrs and just super musical. There's a newer version out so might find one on the used market at the OP price.