The Audible Illusions has 2 volume controls and no balance control. One for the left channel, one for the right. While it has received great reviews for sound, it might be inconvenient for some to use verses a preamp with a single volume control & a balance control. You will be adjusting the balance every time you adjust the volume. For a similar preamp, I suggest a MFA Magus C, a bit old but excellent sound.
How should I upgrade? A new preamp with a phono stage or just a phono preamp?
I have a Bottlehead Moreplay tube preamp running with a B&K Pro-10 MC preamp. I use the B&K because it has a phono stage and a tape loop for my thiel CS 3.5 bass eq. My amp is a Mccormack DNA Deluxe 0.5. I switch between Klipsch KG 4s and Thiel CS 3.5s for speakers. I was thinking about upgrading to a new tube preamp with a phono stage (Audible Illusions Modulus 3a) or just getting a phono preamp and keeping the Bottlehead Moreplay. Either way I want to get rid of the B&K preamp. Thank you for your time