Audio Research or Conrad Johnson Phono Pre

I would expect the CJ to sound perhaps a bit more romantic and the ARC a bit less Tubish. But you really need to get a CJ in your system and make that evaluation for yourself. Tastes wander too much for anyone to give you accurate assistance. Lord knows I have been unhappy with many pieces over the years. Sometimes you have to bump your nose and move on. If you can get a return policy on the CJ buy it, try it and if you don't like it return it. 

The build quality of ARC equipment was superior to Conrad Johnson years back. I do not know how they run today. I have an older ARC phono stage and am extremely happy with it, so much so that I have had it for 20 years an am not yet ready to give it up. I did own a Conrad Johnson preamp back in 1979. I modified the heck out of it. It was a lower cost item than any ARC equipment and was built as such. I switched to a Van Alstine unit after a year or so. But, that was when CJ was just starting they have made significant headway since then.