Cartridge or Pre Amp

@chakster And the upgrade cycle will be never-ending.  Spending a bit more up front will end future money spend on continuing the mediocre performance of cheap electronics.  Using a Herron VTPH-2a will certainly make the AT150MLX sing up to its potential rather than limiting it with the cheap #%*@ you suggest.

Maybe you’re right, but based on my experience it’s hard to motivate a person to jump from $300 product to $3000 product.

The JLTi is not cheap sounding phono stage, if you know who was Allen Wright, who designed JLTi with Joe, and if you will look at the price tag for the first 3 Wright’s versions you will notice they are over $2k. New version does not have that fancy design, but amzing for the money, now $750 (AU$990) including shipping (extrenal power supply is optional upgrade).

Luckily there is NO tubes at all, which is a limited factor in my opinion !

For MM cartridges the JLTi is one of the best phono stage on the market at very reasonable price, no other phono stage alows the user to change the loading for MM cartridges.

@

I listen to Herron Audio equipment and wonder why they are not priced in the $30,000+ range.

I can only laugh at $30k equipment and the marketing strategy related to this business. 

Sorry for the incorrect link I provided. My cartridge is indeed the
AT-ML150 OCC

I don't mind spend the necessary $ to address/compliment my system. Hearing the details of your favorite track and jamming of a band in synergy is some of the best legal dependencies of life.
I'd love to hear more opinions on other phono stages people have had positive experiences on. Keeping in mind that I'm after a warmth that a tube offers, but not limited to a tube preamp.