Phono (0.1- 0.22mV+) or step up for LOMC?


A rookie needs some help please...
Would you buy a phono (0.1- 0.22mV+) or step up for LOMC? Which one? Why? It's an Ikeda 9TT (2ohm, 0.2mV) with a VPI Classic, and Dynaudio BM5 MKiii monitors with volume box.
I have found the following options in the past few days. Phono:
Gold Note PH-10 (0.1mV)
Gold Note PH-1 (0.15mV)
Gold Note PH-7 (0.15mV)
EAR 834p (0.22mV)
Nighthawk F117 (???mV)
Which one would you choose?
I am leaning towards the PH10, but honestly I dont need all those settings, but if IT sounds superior than the other then I would go for it. The Nighthawk sounds really good also for the price but I couldn't find the specifications and I am not sure if it's good as any of the Gold Notes. Used EAR 834p can be an option also but I read really mixed opinions about it. 
Now what I have now is a Musical Fidelity MX VYNL (0.4mV if its balanced), now I am running unbalanced. It's biggest advantage is I could run it full balanced all the way from the tonearm to the monitors and maybe some factory upgrade is possible, regarding to the website in the gain and plus a PSU.

Or step up?
Ortofon?
Denon?
It must be Max 1000pounds used.

Thank you all :)
korakotta

Showing 2 responses by uberwaltz

Raul

All I know is I am very happy with the ph10 and yes it does have a very low noise floor.
I have been very happy with my ph10 so far. Very versatile and you may find all the settings useful at some stage, I certainly have.

I have used it with a shelter501 mk3 cart at 0.5mv and now with a ZYX rs30 at 0.24mv. This really needed very little change in setup, I increased gain from -3db to 0db and loading at 470ohm. This gave me my best sq to my ears. Obviously the more gain you run the more chance you risk of distortion or excess hiss/noise at the speakers without music playing.
I did a test changing to +6db just to see and I think I could live with the hiss if I needed to. But I think even a very lomc in the 0.12mv area should only need +3db gain at most.
But your results could differ considerably in your system.