VPI Aries/JMW 10/Lyra Delos -- Phono preamp rec?

The new Rega Aria is very, very nice at the $1500 price point. If you can stretch your budget a bit more, then I would also strongly consider the Manley Chinook.

***Rega and Manley dealer disclaimer***

There is a very interesting unit available from Manley, Chinook. I think, it is worth the time to find a demo with it.

With your very nice table and cartridge you should really stretch for the best phono stage you can afford and the Chinook is a fantastic match with the Delos. I have both the Delos and Chinook, there is great synergy between the two.

We're so close on this one...I have an Aries II, JMW 10.5 and Delos and I simply love the sound (as do my local fellow audio buds) with my Manley Chinook, after having owned EAR 834P and Aesthetix Rhea phono stages previously. The Chinook is, by far, the quietest and most natural sounding tube phono pre I've come across so far. Totally great synergy as Jcoehler indicated.

I also run this rig into a Jumbo Shrimp and Snapper monoblocks into Thiel 2.4s. I wish all of you could hear this combination.

If you're looking for a tubed phono, check out the rogue ares. It is in the same price range as the chinook. I really enjoy mine and it is very neutral and quiet. It really responds well to tube rolling and can be used with just about any MM or MC cart out there.