How much difference will a phono stage upgrade make?

Back in the day I was blown away by the legendary Magnepan Tympani IVa , when the dealer insisted on showing me the ARC SP8 (phono/pre). The phono made more difference than the best speaker made !!! 

So yes - get the best phono you can stretch to afford and keep it forever. My opinion.

Regarding cwb3rd’s post about Keith Herron above: your customer service from Keith is not unique. I have experienced the same level of above-and-beyond service from him over the years. It started the very first day that I received the VTPH2 (now upgraded to 2A). It was 10 pm, I was trying to connect it to my integrated amp, and having problems. I emailed Keith, expecting to have to wait until at least the next day to get his reply and hear my new preamp. Moments later, he called me and very patiently helped me figure out the problem and walked me through the setup. That was just the first of many times he has provided similarly great service (and NO-that does not mean I’ve had problems with the VTPH, just that I have had many questions and requests as my other components and cartridges have changed, and I’ve upgraded it). This is just how Keith is. One of the true gentlemen (and most definitely a “scholar”—he knows his engineering and music) in the hi fi business.  To be clear: I don’t have any connection to him other than being a happy customer. The VTPH2A is a fantastic piece. I will never sell it! Best of luck to you.

Now, to answer your question, we could probably agree (or not) that Herron could be better in some systems, and Chinook in others.  But, the Herron costs double.  So, for me, moving up from $800 Jolida to $2500 (retail) Chinook, I don't see a reason to go up to almost $4k for the minimal difference in sound quality.  For another $1500, I'd expect to be blown away, and I
wasn't.

@soundermn:
Thanks so much for that detailed input. My thoughts exactly in terms of the jump in price to the Herron. It gets to the heart of my original post—I want to be blown away if I’m spending this much money on a component. I’m feeling more confident now about making this purchase and what it will yield in terms of a step-up in sound quality. 

mmai -  Thanks so much for the info. I talked with Glenn at Aesthetix and he gave some tube ideas so I rolled out of the ElectroHarmonix and Sovteks. Ive got NOS Telefunken in the phono stage now. Lush sound, but alot of rush at my listening levels. But I have no point of reference. So your info is helpful. I could probably live with rush at the level you’re describing. For no particular reason, I haven’t tried Gold Lions but I definitely will. I’m all for a solution under $8,000 - so I can get that Lyra cartridge instead!!

I have Dialogue HP INT also.I would never use a tube phono stage. (YMMV haha!)
Many people who should know say tubed phono = too much distortion.You don’t want my suggestion, but Sutherland 20/20 w/ PL Dialogue HP sounds pretty fine IMO.