KOETSU VERMILION and audio research PH7

@andychris 
Even if it seems to work quite well now, I wonder would you say the same after hearing your low-output cartridges with a better matched higher-gain phono stage? They could sound good and still be held well back of their potential. Expensive cartridges are not cost effective unless configured to their full potential. 

If you're set on keeping the PH-7 for now, I'd strongly advise forgoing the 0.2mV Vermillion in favor of ANY of the other 0.4mV Urushi models (only the Vermillion is different). That will be a much better match for your phono stage. I'm not even saying the PH-7 is necessarily out of date or not great sounding, just that it seems optimized for a very specific output range of matching cartridges and the Vermillion isn't it. 

I've also had an Ortofon Jubilee (exact same specs as your Cadenza Black that replaced it in the Ortofon line) and it didn't sound as good as the higher output Cadenza Bronze (0.45 mV) on my Sonic Frontiers with similar config as your PH-7.

I had the sonic Frontier Phono 1 with the same tubes E188CC that my PH7, you can't compare those 2 phono stage, the sonic frontier doesn't make the music that the PH7 is able to do. I also had an audio research phono ref2 and I keep my PH7. Of course the 68db of the ref2 is fine on paper but there was less music out of the ref2,,, and I don't know why... but it's not a question of number on paper and kind of tubes.... the probleme is to get those components at home for a few days and make some A-B tests,,, and don't think about he price they cost, because more expensive doesn't mean better

OK then get the Vermillion and be happy. Why even ask?

I ask to those who's got a 0.2mv koetsu and a 0.4mv koetsu, is there any big difference between those 2 voltages ? Do you use a big gain phono stage or do you use something like me, 58Db ?  Those who don't have those cartridges, please don't answer me.