thoughts on phono stage

Look into Audio Research.

I've had both the Manley Chinook and Steel Head in my system and they are both wonderful. I will be adding a Chinook to my system in the near future, wish I could afford the Steal Head.

glennewdick - if you are sticking with a tube-based phono stage, have you considered the Modwright ph150?

If I was in your shoes I'd take a serious look at this
https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis92i19-thoress-phono-enhancer-german-made-phonostage-phono

Obviously a ARC Ref2SE Phono is easily within your budget (I know having just had to let mine go at <$6K)

Herron Audio VTPH-2. The Herron is a vacuum tube design and plays well above its price point.

Chuck 

I really can't see the need to spend that kind of money for a phono stage.

secretguy - thanks for your response; you raise several interesting issues.  Are phono stages "less important" to the ultimate sound of an analogue system than the other components?  Is a high-end (i.e.more expensive) phono stage really no better than an entry-level one?  Is there a general rule of thumb that your phono stage should cost no more than a certain % of your pre-amp?

@vinylbliss regarding the value of phono stages.

I think an argument can credibly be made that the phono stage is the most important amplification step in any analog system. Information lost at the front end can never be retrieved downstream and the challenge of accurate RIAA decoding and amplification from <<1mV is severe

i just upgraded from a REF 2SE to a step up/solid stage MM only setup costing 3x the ARC, and more than my preamp or power amps. In my mind the improvement in sound is night and day, actually much more than when I originally went from a Hovland amp to the REF2 anyway

Anway I hope you get to try a variety of stages in your system, and don’t also neglect to look into step up and lower gain options as well, I find this combination has many merits
https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/on-step-ups-and-the-importance-of-managing-gain

"If it doesn’t come out of your source, it can’t come out of your speakers.”
Ben Zwickel of mojo audio

the phono stage is that important. I second Chuck, the Herron vtph-2a

Damn folkfreak, I need to come over to your place again just to hear your system with the new phono amp!

Happy to have you any time @bdp24 but if you wait a month there may be new speakers too 🤪

Wow Simon, I can't wait to just find out what they are! Your Magico Q3's are mighty high performance, so your new speakers must be really special. Care to give us a hint? ;-)

I have a pair of M3s on order, delivery is supposed to be late September. Hopefully I’ll enjoy the same or similar delta I found moving from the V to the Q series.

I think, I would upgrade both turntable/cartridge and phono stage, possibly cables as well. Table is even more important than phono stage. 
I am not sure about electrical compatibility, but you could add Lamm to your list.

Thanks for the suggestion vinylbliss I have  never heard anything from modern right but they do get a lot of press something to consider