Phonostage Advice

Modwright is adding the 11dB line stage gain from the 6SN7’s, which I think is deceiving. So if you had an outboard phono stage with an actual 63 dB of gain, you’d get a net gain of 74 dB. My experience pairing under-0.5mV cartridges with phono stages below 60 dB (and in your case 0.3mV paired with 52 dB) has not been good, regardless of the gain in downstream line stage (and I usually have more than 11dB in my line stages). So my answer to your query is - definitely yes, I think you can do a lot better with 1500 into an outboard stage.

I think adding the Gold Note PH10 would improve things especially because it's so versatile. I got mine new for under $1400. 
Enjoy whatever route you take.

As good as the Modwright stuff tends to be still its just very hard to do as well as in a stand alone unit. Basically, it breaks down into the advantage of the stand alone unit in having its own dedicated power supply combined with the advantage of being able to physically space these far enough apart to get really good shielding outweighs the inherent disadvantage of having to pay for the case, always one of the more expensive single items on a component budget list.

I'd be surprised if you don't find all the units listed above to be a lot better, and immediately, like it will jump out at you.

That being said however, and this is a big however, there's more variance in the sound of phono stages than most other audio components. This probably is down to the massive RIAA equalization required, combined with the massive amplification, combined with the microscopically millivolt level input they have to work with. Its just very hard to get it right. 

I must have brought a dozen phono stages in for home audition when shopping for mine, everything from Lehman Black Cube at the cheap end to a Linn and Audio Research at the high end with stuff like EAR in the middle and a whole lot more. A lot of these were good enough I could see people being happy with them but the range of sounds was extreme. 

So yes you will (not can, will) get significant improvement, but just need to be careful in order for it to be the kind of significant improvement that you really want.

I certainly hope so, or I've wasted a bunch of money.  I don't think I ever tried the phono stage in my LS100.  I have a Manley Chinook and Musical Surroundings Nova Phonomena that I use with my LS100.  Both offer a lot more loading and gain options and don't require opening up the LS 100 to make changes, although you do have to open the Chinook to make gain changes.  Someone has a Nova Phonomena listed for $450 here on Audiogon.  It's very quiet and very neutral and detailed.  You can find used Chinooks for around your budget from time to time if you prefer the tube sound.  The Phonomena will have a lower noise floor and is a bargain used.

wow looks to be unanimous. I do have a buddy locally with a JC3 and an EAR to compare to mine. Thank you so much for your recommendations.
Interesting I have a M&K Realtime LP and when I play it, it appears to be clipping. I thought the singer was over driving the Mic. Could it be my Pre??