phono pre-amp being replaced


Hi guys long time no talk to.

So I'm reaching out to the community to get some feedback. I recently purchased a Lyra Kleos phono cartridge. Love the cartridge by the way. One of the best sounding carts in its price range and more that I have heard. With that said I currently have an ARC PH-7 phono stage. Love that piece also. Its very natural sounding and just produces a lovely sound. However in regards to cartridge loading its just not the best match for the Kleos. I understood that when I bought the cartridge, but I really wanted the Kleos so I pulled the trigger. Don't get me wrong the sound is amazing with the two however the PH-7 has a fixed gain of 57.5 DB. with the Kleos being a .5mv output I have lost about 8-10 DB of gain in reference to my medium output Dynavector that the Kleos replaced. I think the optimal gain for .5mv is somewhere in the neighborhood of 60-61DB. So that is a little background. Here is my question. I'm looking for recommendations for a phono stage to replace the PH-7. I don't want to shell out the money for the ARC Reference which is around $10k plus. I think I can get just as good a sound for somewhat less. So as much as I LOVE my PH-7 I am ready to part with it at this point to better match the Kleos.  So I thought I would ask. So any suggestions would be helpful. I'm looking for something maybe with variable gain or at least maybe a high and a low setting for future cartridge upgrades. I would like it to be vacuum tube, and of course have a very natural sound. So that should narrow the field. I have  been so happy with what I have that I have not even entertained auditioning anything else until now so Im a little behind the 8 ball on the available models out there other than ARC of course. May have a little brand loyalty there, but I'm willing to give another brand a try to keep things in my price range of 3-$6k.


Thanks in advance


-Keith

barnettk
Keith, go here  https://www.sowter.co.uk/specs/1480.php. Two of these transformers, one for each channel cost about $250. They are perfect for the Cleos matching their impedance and are the lower 1:10 gain version perfect for the PH 7. They are the raw transformer and can be mounted internally in the PH 7 and wired to the same input jacks or new additional ones if you do not mind drilling holes. There is loads of real estate in the PH 7 for this. I did one once without additional input jacks making the transformers switchable. Not only is this relatively inexpensive but these transformers sound wonderful. I doubt you could find transformers that sound significantly better at any price.  
@mijostyni 

two thoughts on that. I’m about to board a plane, but let’s chat about that later this evening. 
@lewn and tooblue 

good point and I would agree. It’s not that I am not getting decent volume however I do have to turn up the volume quite a bit in reference to my other sources even with the input level that that the PH-7 is plugged into turned up. Which by the way is basically the same as turning up the main volume. Which brings me back to my main problem. . 

We can chat later. 

Thanks