If patient you can find a late generation K&K Maxxed Out on the used market. Especially with the optional silver Lundahl LL1931 internal SUTs, it will outperform most at twice its list price of $4500 new. I got one for $1800 shipped a few months ago. It rivals my Allnic H3000mkii and my VAC preamp’s excellent internal phono. One box, two tubes, variable loading dial for MC, variable loading and capacitance dials for MM, variable gain options for both, and a mono switch. Excellent resistors and caps throughout. But you do want the last revision to the circuit, which was 2013, IIRC—says on the board. Earlier gens are still excellent (I had one and regretted selling it), but the last is the cherry.
Phono stage for second system
My winter project is here. Trying to set up a second system for my home office.
Will by mainly a vinyl system.
Space is an issue as the room is only 12 by 14.
Any suggestions for a small foot print phono stage in the 3-4 K price range. Probably solid state, but open to tubes as long as the unit is one box solution.
Thanks and happy Thanksgiving.