What separate tube phono stage do you use ?

Can't see why one would eliminate a whole array of potential candidates by insisting on tube only. Shouldn't the question be - what are some of the best sounding phono pres regardless of what devices happen to be inside them?

I use a CJ Premier phono in one system and it is very good, but not as good as the phono pre in my main system, which is solid state.

Rogue Audio Ares with Magnum upgrade, NOS tubes. Very happy with it.

I can easily understand why someone would insist in tube only. Unless your budget is unlimited, you can not just sample phonos endlessly, you must have some idea of what you want.

SS makes sounds, Tubes make music; to some people, sounds sound better than music, plus they dote over the lack of sound, which they call "silence", and nothing is quieter than SS, it exceeds in making no sounds, but since it wasn't making music, the matter is moot.

Music lovers love tubes, and tubes are cheaper because you can double the quality of a tube phono with NOS tubes.

Yeah, comparing is a big problem. Besides, I don't go to dealers asking for audition if I intend to buy used, not from them, I just don't. I would for a reasonable fees, though. What's more, taking into account reel to reel deck and what Ralph said about recording, things get even more complicated.

I'm using a Zesto Andros 1.2