Update :
to start. I am using Legacy audio Studio HD monitors in near/midfield in a small 10’x12’ room.
I just purchased a vintage but restored v-fet Yamaha B-2 amplifier.
The amp is smooth yet unforgiving. But the soundstage is huge
jvc/victor QLY-77f turntable Hana SL cartridge
for digital just a Wiim pro and Spotify
3 x RCA clear top 12au7 in the linestage made a big difference.
The 1950’s RCA’s smoothed out the sound a lot. Listening fatigue is gone without blurring the details I spent an evening pulling out sibilant 80’s punk records and cranked it like I was 20yrs old
I also tried a few 12ax7 in the phono stage
new gold lions and a pair of vintage mullard
the Mullards won out but the phono stage tubes did not make near as big of a difference to my ears. I honestly have never been in love with this Hana cart ( I have a few others but haven’t set them up in the spare arm)
comparing the same tracks on vinyl and Spotify
new Gold Lions were still better than digital or stock JJ
a vintage pair of Mullard with 1 gold lion in the 3rd spot was better than all
but not a big subjective leap like the linestage tubes