If you want to spend that kind of money IMHO it would be a shame if you only looked at those two great phono stages. There are many more you should look/listen at like.
RCM THERIAA
and
Van Den Hul Grail (SB)
RCM THERIAA
and
Van Den Hul Grail (SB)
XP25 vs Reference Phono 2 SE
Has anyone compared these two wonderful phono stages? I have heard the Pass in the context of an all Pass system and was impressed. Would be upgrading from a Herron unit and wonder if maintaining a tube unit, even with the non tubey 6H30 tubes would be a benefit to my otherwise solid state system. If you own either of these units I would like to hear from you and what you considered before purchase.