Phono Stage for passive preamp control


Considering transformer-based passive preamplification. Can anyone suggest a quality tube phono stage with sufficient gain for lower input MC pickups in such a configuration ($2K new or used range)? Don't need volume control on the phono stage, but could go with one that wil bypass the volume control. Am I restricted to a SS phono stage in order to have sufficient gain WITHOUT a step-up device?
4yanx

Showing 1 response by pboutin

Hi 4yanx
I hope I am not intruding, but I am much curious to know about your experience with the Illustrious arm ?
I am using the Denon 103 and plan to never move beyong its familly line.
So I am interested about givin it a perfec matching arm.
The OL line seems to increase its mass as arm increase in price. I wonder if the illustrious is overkill for the "lowly" Denon familly.
Classical music, small and large, solo voices and choirs, those are the basic on witch my audio search is based.
It seems, the space Deck, the OL, and the Kevin Carter are all great prospect in my search, althought a bitt of a hight price for my purse, but..what do you thinck ?
Hope to hear from you sometime, cheers Pierre