Best Phono Stage within 2000 $

The Feickert looks black bronzed while the normal Jelco 10.5S is chrome finish
I guess the Feickert is sold with a better phono cables while the normal Jelco with the cheapo one
Probably these are the differences from the two arms

IMHO

Actually you can also get the Jelco 10.5S in all black like mine here.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a52/jasnev/Hi%20Fi%20and%20Horology/OrtofonKB.jpg

But you don't get a phono cable for that price. The pinkish Jelco cable can be had separately for about $150-170 from memory. TW Acustic also bundles arebranded black 9 inch Jelco 250 tonearm as Vivid 1 and 2 arms as an option i believe.

If you haven'settled on the phonostage,please keep the Aqvox in mind.In its' balanced operational mode,it accepts cartridges in the .1mV range.Have owned some pricey units (Walker Sig/Ref,the custom Terra-Song,Vendetta Rsch and had experience with the Klyne,Pass XONO and a few others).The final gain adjustment on its' face is a very good feature.These units can be auditioned with a return policy.If the "poles" aren't closed,give it a shot.Definitely benefits from after-market PCs.

I have to admit I really have no experience with any of the phono stages mentioned here other than the Aqvox (I was an early adopter and own a Mk.1). That being said, I think that providing you are going to use it in balanced mode with a low output moving coil it offers up some very impressive performance and just sounds "right".

I'd agree, also, that it benefits from an upgraded power cord. The very inexpensive DH Labs cord (I did a DIY one with Marinco connectors for $70) works quite well and fleshes things out and warms things up a bit, which was just about Fremer's only criticism of the Aqvox in the rave review he wrote on it. I've heard it also benefits nicely with a fuse upgrade, which certainly won't break the bank.

But don't buy it unless you are prepared to run balanced with a low output coil. That's where the action is with the Aqvox.

Robm1, your information on the Feickert version of the Jelco arm is correct. Although similar in appearance to the standard Jelco arm, it is made exclusively for Feickert to their specifications and uses a different bearing design.

Feickert dealer.