SS phono stage in $2k to $3k range...

Rockinrobin,

You can pick up a used Reflex for around $750-1k and EXP for ~$750 around here fairly often. Just be patient, one of each pops up every 2-3 weeks or so. There were both available just a few days ago.

They are a great choice that perform far above their price level(especially used).

As I mentioned in my posts above, leave Graham Slee products powered up 24/7 and wait at least 72 hours before giving any serious listening,

You might want to consider the AQVOX 2Ci. It's half of what you are looking to spend, but the reviews place it as serious competition for phono pres in that higher range.

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Dagogo

Another combination worth considering is the Graham Slee Era Gold Reflex w/ their EXP Elevator "transformerless" stepup. I did a direct comparison of the preceding Era Gold mkV + EXP vs. the JLTi in an extremely revealing and well put together vinyl system and the two were nearly identical in performance. With the newer Reflex, GS would have been the clear winner.

I actually compared the JLTi to the Era Gold at Jay's(Audio Revelation) house on his truly great system(s). In his system, the only difference we both could discern(although, he may have been polite and not mentioned more) between the two was a very, very, slight hard edge to transients with trumpets and sax on the Era's side. But, my unit had not been powered up in quite a while and had no warmup at Jay's. Graham Slee recommends a minimum 72 hours, and suggests his units be left on 24/7. When I got home a gave the Era/EXP the recommend warmup, I could no longer discern the "blattiness".

Cannot praise Jay highly enough, he is one of the "good guys" in this industry and his musical and equipment taste/opinion is very, very, good.

Slingshot,

Any chance you will compare the Einstein preamp to the Allnic L-4000, or L-5000?

Just wondering how those linestages stack up against other top models like the Einstein or Messenger.