Phono Stage - Gold Note PH -10 & PSU 10 power supply ? or comparable


I'm upgrading my tube ARC pre-amp and looking for your experience with Phono Stage units, please.  Although I've had several pre-amps, I haven't had a pre-amp that's only line stage and a separate phono stage unit. Love my vinyl and have a $5K MC Cartridge Considering Gold Note. Perhaps the PH-10 or PH-5.2 w/respective power supplies.

My TT rig is ~ $14k and considering a ~$20K list pre amp but they're all line stage only.
Is $ 4.5K-$5  a good target price point for a phono stage?
I really don't want to go to $7-10K+ range.
What  is a good price pt. guideline for a better phone stage?
Looking for  recommendations and guidance
Thanks

blue_strat

Ref phono does quite well with .4 mv carts including my Kuzma CAR-40 and Koetsu  Urishi Black the overall gain structure of the system is and should be 

its all ARC Ref series out to high eighties db Tidal Piano. I’ve run carts w right at .2 and that is sketchy but I’ve got a couple of nice SUT.

congrats to OP the 6se is imo a superb line stage. Have fun !!!!

I should mention I used the Goldnote with a .3mv Dynavector 17D3 and it was fantastic for $$$. 

@lewm my phono stage is very quiet - no issues with higher gain. 
in my experience though, with all the phono stages I owned, the higher gain is going to result in a more forward sound and a loss of a soundstage depth. 

The overall sensitivity of preamp or integrated amp matters but higher gain always sounds more artificial to me and not as relaxed. it is never a volume position on the preamp or integrated amp that matters, but the phono stage gain. 
Phono stages I tried this with are Sutherland 20/20 Mk2 and my current Whest Two.2. Cartridge was in both cases Hana ML with 0.4mv output.
Same result, with different downstream components. 
I’m w big fan of ARC gear and would love to try that ARC though. Will need to figure out a way.

I sold my PH-10 & PSU-10 after buying a $650 Softone Model 4 on a whim to pair with my MSL Platinum. It wasn’t a close contest,

Running NOS Mullard’s but also got great results with RCA triple micas.

its not pretty but the mute button is great and its as quiet as the GoldNote.

wondering if Gold Note is coming with a PH10.2

I asked the US Importer this same question and he tells me not at this time. But it wouldn't surprise me if by years end they do. Purely a guess on my part.