Phono Stage Upgrade

There is a non SE REF 3 on audio mart for $8600.  It's been there a while.  I sold one about 1.5 years ago for $7500.  All the dealers advertise them at inflated prices used around $11000.  $8000 ish seems to be a fair and reasonable price.  If having the SE upgrades was that important you could always send to ARC or sell and buy an SE.  I bet you would be perfectly fine with the non SE.

I have been a long time user of ARC phono-stages for well over twenty years. Starting with the PH2, with many upgrades… each time researching alternatives and each time buying a newer ARC. I unhesitatingly recommend them. I now have a REF3. The most recent you can afford.

I am running a Koetsu Rosewood Signature on a contemporary Linn LP12. Although I am sure virtually any cartridge will sound its best through the REF3. It has individual settings for Standard RIAA and specific labels. 

Of course the danger with the question I posed is that it opens the door to all sorts of adjacent topics and education!  I suppose that is why some of us are continuously reading, discussing and adjusting.  I will note that I definitely took the time to listen to some more of the Bill Evans collection that arrived on Saturday as well as playing my original Blues and the Abstract Truth" for the who knows how many times...
 

So after looking at some of the posts it seems like there is a decision point related to the "type" of phono stage I should explore. The tube option noted multiple times (ARC) and then there seems to be a solid state option as well. My current Little Loco appears to be of the plug it in and it works and clearly there are others (Van der Hul) with the same philosophy. 

I am using a solid state integrated amp right now and am completely happy with it and have no plans to change (the LFD, Harbeth, and Palmer combo just works). So I should do some research on the approaches to phono stages and also the compatability with my Koetsu cartridge. 

If any of this helps clarify my goals, I am still interested in the respected opinions and suggestions of this community. Many thanks. 

I have a ref one arc phono stage sold the krell kpa after I got the arc. I also have the phono stage in the Ayre k1xe pre amp. The arc is a big step up fro. The k1xe  phono section which I like better than the krell kpa. The old krell dealer told me the way to have the krell kpa sound wonderful  was to have two of them and run them true dual mono. One channel  into each phono stage.  You have the cartridge  that I lose sleep over. That is a wonderful  one. I have  ever heard a stone body  but they are to heavy  for my setup. I have a linn lp 12. I retubed  the arc with reflecktor tubes there 6922 equivalents.  Very nice in my system.  Sorry I cannot be more help.