It is quite complex question. I am quite familiar with the majority of the phonostages was proposed here and unfortunately I personally do not find them all worth to peruse. Those phonostages are just plane bad phonostages and they MUST NOT COST as much as they do. In fact, there IS NO commercially available phonostage that performs well. If you want to get ANY phonostage then do not go for what commonly consider good because it is just waste of money. The 3K-12K phonostages DO NOT SOUND better then 1K phonostages. If you cant build your own phonostages or to commission somebody to build it for you then get for $400 (direct from UK) EAR 834P and update it according to Torthen specification (+$120). This unit with a good step-up will waste ANY high price phonostages. Unfortunately, as I said, there is no good MC phonocorrector out there. Good luck in your search for a good step-up.
Rgs,
Romy the Cat
Rgs,
Romy the Cat