Hey Droz............Are you hearing any significant difference between your Cronus' built-in phono stage and the Project Tube box ??? To my ears, the MM phono stage in the Cronus is really, really good, and works quite well with mid-priced MM cartridges. My Rega Exact 2 sound absolutely great with my Rega arm and table. In your price range and on your Project table, you might want to check out the Ortofon 2M series. I agree with Dougdeacon that a moving magnet is the way to go for you. Save the $$$ and buy more LP's !!
Good Luck, and Happy Listening !
Good Luck, and Happy Listening !