Cartridge and/or phono stage upgrades

Sounds like you might re-tip the cart, so in the meantime if you are exploring tube phono stages, check out the Softone Model 4. $800 delivered to the US direct from the manufacturer.

Don't be fooled by the low price and unattractive (IMO) industrial design. It's amazing. 

I could not find the Axia's output so no clue if it's a good match, but note it's limited to these 3 settings and doesn't have balanced in/out:

MM load resistance is 47k ohms, 45dB gain.
MC High load resistance is 100 ohms, 67dB gain.
MC Low load resistance is 25 ohms, 72dB.

Expert Stylus supply a Stylus referred to the Paratrace.

There is not too much difference in the form of this Stylus to the FGS or the Replicant 100.

I know Paratrace adopters and they swear by them, when added to a MC - MM or even a Ceramic Cart'

Having the Cart' returned surgically cleaned along with a retip and tension wire tweaked will blow one out of the Ballpark when recollecting what was sent in comparison to the returned item. 

@macg19   The Softone sounds tempting the way you described. How can they make a decent pre for $800? Chinese? I paid more for the balanced interconnects than that. And then I’d have to buy the RCA’s.

$650 actually, $150 is freight. Made in Japan by Shoichi Yoshimoto and sold direct.

The GoldNote PH-10 and PSU-10 it replaced list for $3300.

Dealer cost is $1980, distributor cost is around $1,500. Probably costs $500 to make them, maybe less. You get the picture.

I bought the model 4 after a members here said he preferred it to a $9k Allnic. He just bought a second one.

As for cables, I use Zavfino Fusion and I lucked out on a used pair for $200 (rare find) but even new they are on sale I think for $357. (I also used balanced with the GoldNote )

The Model 4 sits between some fairly expensive gear and Many here would suggest I should spend 10x what I spent on the PS. Details in my virtual system.