End Game Phono Preamp (tube)

Cleaner imaging. Less low mid emphasis + somewhat tubby bass. In short - resolution. With better depth. If any aspect of soundstage that can be improved upon I’m all for it.
 

You just described my Whest PS.30 RDT SE. The only aspects you missed is the vanishingly low noise floor and virtually no surface noise.
And it’s a solid state unit!

@ericba the Modwright PH9.0 XT, at least in MC, is hybrid phono amp using a built in jfet headamp. a properly matched SUT beats a jfet or opamp headamp any day. 

My experience with the predecessor H3000 Allnic (not a ’V’ with variable curves) is that it benefits enormously from rolling the rectifier-- if you go back to the reviews when that unit was marketed,  you’ll see all sorts of anecdotals on the attributes of different rectifiers. 

I think I brought the Allnic into this system around 2013--had a Steelhead, which was a like a Swiss army knife of utility but despite rolling tubes there, never got past a slight electronic glaze. Used the MM inputs straight in rather than the auto former inputs for top end Lyra and Airtight cartridges at the time. 

Although a lateral move from the steelhead  in terms of price, market segment, the Allnic enjoyed far more "dimension" and, at least in my system, much better pinpoint placement of instruments as well as a sense of micro-dynamics- you could hear the dynamic changes of individual instruments. These sound like "audiophile" attributes, but the end result was far more "real" sounding and less electronic.

Also, despite comments from some that the Allnic had a burnished quality compared to other solid state phono stages, I never found that-- utmost "clarity" without any bite or tendency to etch the leading edges. Perhaps synergy with the other components. Have not sampled the others mentioned here--doing so in your system will reveal these differences. The Allnic did take a little time to settle in.

I had a variety of NOS rectifiers, from fat base Mullard (first after metal base) to several others, including the metal base--a vaunted tube which had mucho base but sounded lifeless on top. My rectifier of choice in my system has proven to be a cup base GEC u52, which is a pretty well recognized older tube. Synergy in voicing with the other components? I think so. The unit has proved to be pretty reliable, replaced one tube socket and refreshed the main chassis tube complement with NOS Dutch tubes. The gain/loading adjustments are easily performed,unit is very quiet, the CNC chassis lends solidity, the soldering inside looks a little hasty but it has held up well. And the current distributor in the States (different when I bought) is well informed and responsive. 

Doshi Alaap is also fighting for my preference, and cheaper than the Allnic by 50%. Thoughts? Modwright PH150 is in the discussion too. 

@atmasphere + 1