Your Ultimate Phono Preamp: Which One Would You Choose?

My very long term experiences had with Phonostages, allows me to say assuredly that ' Probably' is the best word to use in conjunction with 'end game Phonostage'.

I myself like to think the experiences had and learning as the outcome, has led me to Phonostages that reiterate the search is now lesser of a requirement and the Phonostages in use are foreseen to have Longevity in their role. 

Interesting that the notion is that to achieve a High End Phohostage, there is a need to spend excessively.

This might be the case if the Phonostage is to be sourced from a Brand.

There are other options to achieve a Phonostage that can thoroughly impress, as a result of the design and BOM.

The type of BOM one might just be lucky enough to find is attached to a Branded Phonostage purchased costing between $20K - ,$+++

Paradox Phono Signature 70 Models can be found for as little as $1800 if buying used is being considered. A search carried out will find such sale price offers.

If prudent spending is being considered, this might be one model worth learning much more about.

In recent searches I have found US produced Phon's produced that were close to $15K when new, that are offered for sale or sold recently close to $3K as used items.

I will make a large Wager, these Older released models as basic will stand ground well against modern $15K Phon's.

If the used Older released model was to have some minor mod's, where exchanges to the circuit was carried out, using state of the art Components, there is the possibility, the race will look very different, as to who is out in front. 

One thing for sure, $1000's will remain in ones coffers.  

The following is a review I have very recently read on comparisons of Phonostages costing between $2K and $30K. The reviewer is seemingly very confident in their assessment of he closeness of the performances in relation to the vast separation between the purchase values.

Even though I don't have experiences of these models in any guise used, there is nothing new here to me. I have experienced very well thought out design and component matched Phon's costing much much less than more expensive models in A/B Comparison. My assessment being the Phon' produced as above by a competent EE, will stand out above numerous Phon's met costing much more. It looks like this reviewr has stumbled on such a experience.

_____________________________________________________________  ,    

Since I am used to listening to LPs played back via solid-state equipment (Jeff Rowland, Pass Labs, and more recently CH Precision) the Lejonklou suits me perfectly. The Entity has clearly been tweaked so carefully that it simply has no sins of commission. While it is even-handed and superimposes no character of its own it is also highly rhythmic, expressive, and articulate. Add to that its immense transparency and its free-flowing and highly refined delivery on a level that I have so far only heard from the Jeff Rowland Cadence and the CH Precision P1 and this starts to look like something of a bargain. The Entity may well be the phono stage to beat in its price range.
Postscript June 2021
The Entity has been updated to 1.1 version. Having heard the new model in comparison with a couple of other preamps but not its predecessor, I was impressed to find it still has superlative transparency, low-level detailing, treble air, and refinement but now coupled with massively improved solidity, robustness, and dynamic slam. In its latest guise priced at 1.875 euros, it comes highly recommended.