Curl or Pass

Well, I have had an interesting experience with a JC3+. It overdrove my Bryston preamp because the MM gain was too high. However the lower gain phono stages work great with it such as the Pass Labs Aleph Ono, Musical Fidelity NuVista Vinyl and the PS Audio Stellar Phono Preamp. I love the Aleph Ono. I considered moving up the Pass Labs line but Wayne Coburn increased the MM minimum gain and that was a no-go for my Bryston preamp. I could go to the Pass Labs XOno. But haven’t found the right opportunity. 

If you're gonna audition you must include Darren Myers Stellar in that $$ range.

XP15 owner here- it’s flexible, quiet, nuanced and dynamic. 

@clifff How does anyone with three post say "for the umpteenth time!"

He's establishing himself early....

Anyway, I have the Pass XP-15 and use it with a tube preamp and amps.  They sound great, and the Pass does have a lot of flexibility with mm and mc cartridges.  That came in very handy when I switched from mm to mc when I upgraded my turntable.  Could not be happier with the Pass Labs XP-15, and could not be happier with the dealer-- Mark at Reno HiFi.  Great product and a true gentleman at Reno Hi-Fi.