Hey Inna, interesting thread! I've run an Aesthetix Rhea for about 10 years and like it (but don't love it). After a few years, of daily use, I need to re-tube it as it gets very noisy, and it uses 10 tubes = expensive! But I've owned and tried many phono setups, and this one does deliver a wonderful musical experience with the large-scale orchestral music that is my mainstay. It won't solve the problem that Ralph as pointed out about feeding a tape recorder directly, but it's a nice unit otherwise.
I lust after Ralph's (Atma-Sphere) MP-1 preamp as my ultimate phono. Unfortunately, high end has become even more high and I've never been able to afford one on a fixed income. I have a pair of Ralph's M60 amplifiers that are my all-time favorites, hope to never part with them. They are wonderful room heaters in the cold northern winter.
I'm also a fan of Modwright's gear, having had multiple tube-infused digital pieces that Dan has built. He has a new recently introduced phono stage that is incredibly impressive (in an unfamiliar system), but again too expensive for my budget. But I've heard he also is introducing a lower-priced version that uses trickle-down technology, might be terrific, knowing Dan. Worth your while to check it out?
Hope this helps.
