Looking for phono stage recommendations

Jafox
I hadn't really looked at it tubes vs Solid State. I was looking for the best phono for the money. I am still considering ordering a Supratek Cortese, but it takes about five months to get one.
If I go that route, I can sell my Klyne and the Pass Labs to go to the Cortese which has the best phonostage that Supratek makes.
Time will tell...

Has anybody heard the Ayre phonostage? I believe they only make one.

take a look at the decware all tubed phono preamp for 1500 including moving coil step up trannies

hi I am in the market for a better phono stage, I just got into vinyl recently and am using an ear834 deluxe. I was at someone's show room the past weekend with my phono stage to compare to his and at first for me the sound of my ear and his martinson from germany at $7000.00 sounded the same, but on closer listening I noticed his phono got me more into the music like as if I was hearing it live which is what I am after obviously. I want my system to be more revealing and lifelike. And so I was wondering how do you like the xono? Is it approaching the best of what is out there?

I do think that the X-Ono is one of the best units available, but it is not the best. Since it can be bought used for around $3000, I would have say, at that price it is a steal! It is very quiet, dynamic, fast, and versitile.

I think I have a pretty good system, other than my speakers, but I continue to hear new things as I'm listening to more vinyl. I replaced my table/arm/cartridge recently so I am going back to things I haven't heard in a while, but in doing this, I'm learning a lot about my system, including the Pass Labs. I have some serious upgrades in the pipeline on the front end, but even now, my phono sounds amazing. At least to me...

I'm not really sure what you're looking for, but if you were looking at a $7000 phono section, I would check out the Manley Steelhead. If you want to spend a lot less, but get darn close, the X-Ono will do it for you.