Phono Pre-amp with XLR

As long as you understand that the type of input or output jack (RCA vs XLR) makes very little difference per se. What I think you want is a balanced phono stage that truly processes the phono signal in balanced mode. Such a preamp will typically provide XLRs in and out, but some of them also provide RCA inputs, for tonearms that have only RCA terminations and customers who are not competent to change over from RCA to XLR. A single-ended phono stage will almost never have XLR inputs but might have XLR outputs as an option. Sometimes XLR outputs on an SE stage actually sound less good than the native RCA outputs, because to generate the balanced output signal, the phono output has to be processed one more time, either by going thru a transformer or thru a buffer of some kind. Maybe you know all this, and if so, I apologize for the pedantry.

Tdaudio, If you read Ralph's (Atma-sphere) post and then read mine from yesterday, you will find a remarkable confluence. I have been using an MP1 for about 14 years now. I think some balanced phono stages offer RCA phono inputs because, as Ralph indicated, the world has not beaten a path to his door. Some other manufacturers fear that offering XLR inputs will frighten off persons who have typical RCA-terminated phono cables. I like that Ralph is a man of principle and won't compromise his design by offering an inferior connection to a balanced circuit.

What would be more frightening is if you encounter another male dressed as a female XLR. That would be decidedly unbalanced.