Valve phono stage

bpoletti, I don't think you are qualified to argue "facts" with Ralph.  The fact that you don't know when you are over your head is only further proof of that. He's too nice a guy to tell you.

Facts contradict your salemanship approach on balanced connections.

@bpoletti  Perhaps you could point me to a link that confirms your position?
Here is a link that confirms mine:http://www.rane.com/note110.html
Scroll down, you'll see a diagram of a transformer hookup. Note that the secondary of the transformer is floating (like a cartridge, the secondary of the transformer is a simple coil with only two connections), per the Balanced Standard, also known as AES (Audio Engineering Society) file 48. There is a charge for the AES paper on that topic, so I can't link that, but here is a google search on 'balanced cartridge connection', also confirming my position:
https://www.google.com/search?client=ubuntu&hs=5U8&channel=fs&tbm=isch&q=balanced+ca...
Note how the cartridge is represented by a simple coil with two connections.

So I would be interested in your source(s).

Regarding sales, it is true that I push balanced line operation. IMO/IME it sounds better and no looking back. My exposure to balanced lines occurred in high school, when I was tapped by a local college to play string bass in their orchestra (1973, Macalester College, in case anyone cares).  At the concerts, I noticed a pair of Neumann U67s hung over the orchestra, with some very long cables going up to a very high ceiling and from there going back down to a booth on the side of the hall. Inside the booth was an engineer named Mike Shields (for real, not a made up name) and a Crown reel to reel, running the balanced line connections from the mics straight into the machine.

It was from those concerts (and his headphones) that I learned that you can run very high quality low level audio signals a really long way without degradation. That seemed a logical thing to incorporate into a phono section when I was designing one years later, not so much for the length of cable but for the additional sound quality. So the world's first balanced line preamp, which incorporated the first balanced line phono section, was the MP-1 preamp, which we still make.

A bit of audio history for you; the MP-1 brought balanced line connections into the home for the first time. Sorry if I still enjoy my work.

Sorry if I still enjoy my work.

LOL!!

Have had the Aesthetix Rhea signature for a number of years.  Balanced out, multiple arms supported, MC demagnetizer, and with some late 50s Amperex or Millard 12ax7 and 6dj8, for the money, it’s very hard to beat.  You can find them used often, and can get ‘re-warrantied’ By upgrading to either signature or eclipse version if you buy on secondary market.   I can not recommend more highly their support and service.  Jim white is on to something here.  I’ll be jumping into some Atlas mono locks the first chance I get!!!!!!!