Is Van den Hul Frog Gold a good choice for my rig?

I have a new-ish Frog Gold and it’s awesome. I’ll warn you it was very mediocre until I got some burn-in time, and also adjusted VTF a little higher than recommended (1.6g). I’m not used to so much burn-in dependence, so this took me by surprise. It doesn’t need the full 100 hours to start sounding great, but definitely more than 20.

As far as phono stages - it didn’t seem to like active MC gain, at least in my case. I tried with Herron VTPH-2A and Hagerman Trumpet Reference. The treble got harsh, and soundstage shrunk in - very unexpected. But with either phono stage in MM mode using an EAR MC-4 SUT for MC duties, it transforms into something wonderful. Can’t say if that will happen on your JC3+, but it’s something to keep in mind. Maybe see if you can borrow a SUT to have on hand.

My Frog Gold says 0.85mV on the box, but it really sounds like a 0.4mV (0.5 at best) and behaves best when I treat it as such (e.g., 6 ohm tap on the EAR). I have other brand cartridges here rated at 0.4 mV, 0.55, 0.6 mV, 0.8mV (etc) and it’s clearly less output than the 0.55mV and up models. I don’t know if this is typical of Van den Hul ratings or just my Frog unit. Anyways, I'm happy with it at 0.4-ish if it sounds like this :) 

Very good advice.  VdH itself warns about break in on the cartridge.  Apparently it’s a bit stiff until broken in.

" I really love with highish end used/open box parts bought because my tastes are Waygu, while my budget is nice brisket."

Great analogy.

""What would you recommend over the Parasound JC3+?"

Definitely a nice SS unit. A tube phonostage will give another perspective. To my ears, just as your tube pre does, it delivers  a more "organic" convincing presentation. Since you're open to used- Manley Chinook or Herron. 

If you do get the "new" itch, the new Prima Luna all tube phonostage looks inviting. I say that not having heard it, but owning PL gear for many years, likely it follows the PL lineage of value,performance and price. I'll demo one when I get a chance.

Primaluna EVO 100 Tube Phonostage — PrimaLuna USA (primaluna-usa.com)

If my current tube phono doesn't make it thru a visit to the shop, it will be on my hit list. 

You have a setup that does at least 90% of what uber setups do. The room setup, as you likely know, will make or break a system.

"After a bit, I’ll probably add another time arm and go for something risky."

I'd also look into Sota/Phoenix RoadRunner tach/speed regulation.

Eclipse Roadrunner – Sota Turntables

A word about phonostages. I owned my frog and upgraded my phonostage from an Audio Research PH 2, 2SE, 3, 3SE, 5, 8, and finally an ARC Ref 3. In each case I got a sizable boost in performance until the last. This is partially how I came up with the generality of investment level TT with cartridge = phonostage = preamp = amp. That seems to be to sweet spot if you carefully choose your components. Until I got to the PH 8 level my phono stage was holdin back me tt.

You need not start there… but this may be worth it long termed. It sure did for me.

Well, I bought one -- on Audiogon, new -- for $1995.  

(I am a discount shopper.)

Have to go to the bank and send a wire.  What a PIMA.