I am a newbie! I was reading varyat's previous posting, where VFM was mentioned. OK, that was an audio term I hadn't known, except I think it is "Value For the Money."
There was actually a Manley Chinook on eBay, but I didn't jump in. It did look good.
I think I'm understanding atmasphere's advice "consider a full function preamp." Which I'm thinking the Audible Illusions Modulus 3A is. It has 28dB for the phono, and then 30dB for the line stage, so the total of 58 is very close to the 60dB gain I had somehow come up with for the proper amount for the 10X5. And, thinking of what harrylavo said, the headquarters is in Daytona, which is within driving distance from me.
I am still wondering though about the VTPH-2. It is a FET/tube hybrid I guess. From TheNeedleDoctor review, "
It offers a level of vacuum-tube engineering (carefully combined with solid-state circuitry) that's rare at any price, unheard of at this one." So that is calling for more research, as I'm not sure what aspect the solid-state circuitry is doing.
One aspect I'm starting to wonder about as I search used is how robust are these tube phono preamps? Should they last 8 years, 15 years, or many decades?
And, I'm thankful for everybody who's taken time and replied, every response is helpful for me, and also appreciated too.