ModWright Phono

One thing you should do is swap the stock 5AR4 for a Blackburn Mullard or a metal base Dutch made rectifier, if you haven't already. That will warm it up some. Also, unless you burned it in or it's used, it's nowhere near broken in. Takes at least 250 hours. Don't give up on it just yet.

Fantastic phono stage! I have the SWLP which has the exact same phono stage. Really improves with time opening up the soundstage. The caps take a long time to break in. Very natural presentation. No hard edges whatsoever. Really brings out the best in analog. It's simply the best I've ever heard with no weakness that I can find.

The only phono stage that I can say I directly compared it to was the Whest 2.0 which I owned. That was in itself a really good phono that received rave reviews compared to the usual standard bearers like the Manley. The Whest had an incredibly wide soundstage and revealed low level textures exceptionally well. At first, by comparison, the Modwright seemed more narrow width and not quite as deep in the soundstage. But the instruments and vocals were more organic and natural. It was also more dynamic and low level detail was at least equal to the Whest. Gradually, as I suppose the caps broke in, the stage deepened, though not quite as wide as the Whest.
The cartridge I used in the comparison was the Shelter 501 on a Scoutmaster on steroids with every upgrade imaginable.
While I wish I could have drug home the reference phono stages to compare directly, I had to draw a line somewhere budget wise, my moment of clarity in this insane hobby before I start jacking 7-11's.

Trust me.. it'll get a lot better. Re-reading my comment, you'd get the impression I thought the Whest was close. It's really not. The Modwright is leagues above it. The separation of instruments will expand and the tonal quality will be fuller, more resolving, definable, richer. It sounds like it should.. more analog. I wouldn't at all call it polite or hifi-ish. No hint of processed, 2 dimensional CD sound unless the record was recorded that way.
I probably am still under 200 hours on the phono, and there were days that it didn't sound quite as magical, but those days were few and it is seeming to stabilize.

Yes, I forgot to mention that I have a NOS Mullard 5AR4. It really does make a nice difference. I haven't rolled any other tubes but did try the Herbie's damper on it. Didn't like it but may try experiment more with position again. I do however like the Herbie ring on the Tung Sol's.
Thanks for the tip on the gain. I'll try it sometime.

One thing you should do is swap the stock 5AR4 for a Blackburn Mullard or a metal base Dutch made rectifier, if you haven't already. That will warm it up some. Also, unless you burned it in or it's used, it's nowhere near broken in. Takes at least 250 hours. Don't give up on it just yet.