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Phono (0.1- 0.22mV+) or step up for LOMC?

A rookie needs some help please...
Would you buy a phono (0.1- 0.22mV+) or step up for LOMC? Which one? Why? It's an Ikeda 9TT (2ohm, 0.2mV) with a VPI Classic, and Dynaudio BM5 MKiii monitors with volume box.
I have found the following options in the past few days. Phono:
Gold Note PH-10 (0.1mV)
Gold Note PH-1 (0.15mV)
Gold Note PH-7 (0.15mV)
EAR 834p (0.22mV)
Nighthawk F117 (???mV)
Which one would you choose?
I am leaning towards the PH10, but honestly I dont need all those settings, but if IT sounds superior than the other then I would go for it. The Nighthawk sounds really good also for the price but I couldn't find the specifications and I am not sure if it's good as any of the Gold Notes. Used EAR 834p can be an option also but I read really mixed opinions about it. 
Now what I have now is a Musical Fidelity MX VYNL (0.4mV if its balanced), now I am running unbalanced. It's biggest advantage is I could run it full balanced all the way from the tonearm to the monitors and maybe some factory upgrade is possible, regarding to the website in the gain and plus a PSU.

Or step up?
Ortofon?
Denon?
It must be Max 1000pounds used.

Thank you all :)
128x128korakotta
invictus005
597 posts
 
I would choose Moon 310LP. It’s an excellent sounding phono preamp.
lewm
13,038 posts
 
Kora, I have no doubt that your Dynaudios may sound "better" compared to some unknown comparator, when fed from your balanced equipment, whatever it is you're using, but the speakers per se are not sensitive to the nature of the signal in terms of balanced vs SE.  In other words, if you played around with amplifiers, phono stages, and line stages, you might eventually find some combination of SE electronics that sounds better than your current balanced set-up, although balanced circuits in my own experience do tend to have a lower noise floor.  Also, unless your amplifiers have a balanced output, the speakers are not at all affected one way or the other by what is upstream (balanced or SE), except in the areas of noise and gain.

I think I may be opening a can of worms.  Don't worry about it.
korakotta's avatar
korakotta OP
50 posts
 
The Dynaudio BM5 MKiii are active monitors with built in amp, balanced ,unbalanced inputs.
Ag insider logo xs@2x
rauliruegas
13,055 posts
 
Dear @korakotta: With out single doubt: Moon 310LP.

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,
R.
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