Preamp Deal of the Century

Hello all,
I'm from Italy and apologize for my poor English.
After reading this subject many times I'm ready to joining the "club", as i'm ordering today or tomorrow a Cortese. My current pre is ARC ls5 mk2 mod by GNSC, 7308s siemens outfitted, i really love it ims, but planning on a return to vinyl i need a pre-phono too.
I'm thinking now to keep my ls5 as linestage and Cortese as phono,then ....I'll decide which one will be the "winner" ims.
My system:
AA Capitole mk2--Gyrodeck sme309 Ruby2 .7v
Arc ls5 mk2.....
Goldmund 29M
Sonus Faber Amati.

Here is my little concern: Cortese or Grange? (the latter could be clearly better than arc allowing me to sell it)

Thanks everyone sharing opinions on my plan.
Sandro

Hi All,
Mick wrote :"the pre is built, have to do the power supply"
Would like to know your opinion, have i to check my emails from Australia every day ( or hours!) or better don't get deceived as there is still a long waiting?
Pre is Cortese.

Thanks for this great forum

Hi All,
I got "the email", the one that tells you that your waiting is over. I'm feeling a bit excited...
Is there something I should ask now to Mick for my Cortese, also considering that I live in Italy, not so close?
Thanks

Sandro

Forgive the intrusion, just to share my excitement, I have the Cortese in my car and in few minutes I'm leaving my office and bringing it at home. It took four days to get it from Australia to Italy, in my hands, incredible.
Thanks to everyone for this thread and the helpful answer I got in the past.

Sandro

Hi Slowhand,Hi All,
yes, you're right, I 'm too busy to listening . I have to tell you that I still cannot say that I like it more than the "old " ARC LS5 mk2 GNSC ref. mod, Siemens 7308s outfitted with. Both are great, the Cortese doesn't "kill" my ARC at all.Consider that I liked my ls 5 more than a REF 2 mk2 and that the Cortese is 200 hours old.
I need a bit longer time ,my impression now is that my ls5 is a bit more on the romantic side than the Cortese, where this one has a little better dynamic. Soundstaging is large and deep with both units,there is a lot of air between performers.Music flows with easy,I often find myself listening to the music rather than to the pre's differences. What I mean is that these two pre's anyway are showing the features peculiar to what a great pre must have. No trouble at all in bass, mids and highs, only little different tastes.
The phono section is awesome to my ears, but I have few hours(10/15)on it .My early pre phono was an ARC sp11 mk2 with nos Amperex 6922s. The only tube rolling I'm going to get is just the two 6922s, infact I have two Siemens 7308s to try.
The long waiting is well worth, this is one of the best pre you can get, not only for the moneys. It also looks a lot better than on the pics and is dead silent.
Let us know when you'll get yours.
Sorry for my limited English.
Sandro

Please stop! This is not the right place for this kind of communications. imho!

Merry Christmas and happy new year from Italy to everyone on this great thread.

Sandro- happy owner of the only one Cortese in Italy