3k Phono preamp upgrade options (JC3+, XP-17, etc)

@riskymilk I owned a JC3+ and it was just ok it really never moved me also felt it was a bit noisy. What I went to was a Gold Note PH-10 with matching ps. Sonically it was better plus it is so versatile. Lots of reviews on the GN

@rsf507   The amount of noise generated by a phono stage depends on the cartridge you are trying to mate it with. In my recollection I can not recall anyone saying the JC3+ was noisy. Transformers are quite but they come with their own set of problems.

@riskymilk , These are both good phono stages. The JC3+ wins on the basis of sheer value. One could also argue that John Curl REALLY knows what he is doing. The JC3+ is relatively inexpensive because it is manufactured in Taiwan. If it was made here in the US it would cost easily three times as much and would not be built as well. Small manufacturers can not afford aerospace manufacturing equipment.

So when I said noisy it was that I could easily hear just "noise" in the soundstage that when switched out for several other phono units including the GN just was not there. A blacker background or cleaner presentation. 

@riskymilk You may find this thread helpful, in which I searched for an endgame SS phono. I’m not sure I’ve found it yet, but there sure are a lot of good suggestions and learnings from others even though many of the options fall above the $3K price range. Some of them do not.