Preamplifier options - seeking help to determine which one

My advice:

1. You have convinced yourself 'I prefer Japanese', yet I was surprised to read this from their site's 04 description?

"The resistors are made by DALE, which has a good sound, and the condenser is a polypyrene film capacitor with low distortion in the main part
Most of the resistors of CA-04 are made by DALE in the United States. Many of the resistors made by DALE are made according to the MIL standard in the United States, and their sound quality is so superior that it cannot be compared with those of the same class made in Japan. Its reliability is also several levels higher than that of general use.

In addition, polypropylene capacitors made mainly in the United States are used for condensers. Compared to ordinary chemical capacitors, this polypropylene capacitor has a superior response to pulsed signals, and the distortion rate of the capacitor itself is also very good. Since the difference in sound quality between capacitors has a significant impact not only on the signal circuit but also on the power supply circuit, we are trying to improve the sound quality by adopting a polypropylene type capacitor for many parts of the capacitor, including the power supply circuit. In addition, the condenser, which greatly affects the sound quality, is filled with high-strength epoxy resin in an ebony case by the company to improve the sound quality".

Each maker must differentiate themselves, they have made this a large part of their differentiation.

I agree with others: consider well known, well reviewed components in your budget, consider future resale.

2 . Learn More about Phono requirements: RIAA EQ; MM signal strength; MC low output signal strength; SUT's relationships of xFactors/resultant Impedances.

Think long, not just your current Denon 103R, but future cartridges, both MM and MC. You want more impedance options than what the 03 model or most built-in MC offers.

3. Phono Signals REQUIRE

a. RIAA EQ to occur somewhere, and

b. Signal  Strength BOOST up to LINE LEVEL which originally was 1 volt,

b1. boost MM and/or HOMC higher signal output some, or

b2. boost LOMC smaller signal up some (via a SUT) to go into a MM Phono for RIAA EQ and final boost up to line level, or

b3. all the way up including RIAA EQ (a complete self contained phono stage).

4. Learn about SUTs (I learned after joining Audiogon). Here's some SUT info I gathered while learning, after a bit of research it starts to make sense, or, like Bridge, simply follow the rules)

https://www.audiogon.com/systems/11318

I’ve gone the passive route, Tisbury audio passive preamp, made in UK. I’m also using a smsl cd player with its own volume control, as well as the music hall ph 25.2 hybrid/tube headphone/preamp (own volume control), and the music hall A3 tubed phone preamp (own volume control). All these components hooked up directly into two NAD 268 power amps (class D) in a bridged mono block configuration. No need for a dedicated stand alone active preamp. Sounds great. This is one of 2 set ups I currently run.

Have you looked into purchasing this preamp yet? I don’t know what country you’re in, but in my country there is no dealer for Yamamoto. I was interested in purchasing one of their amps, because they seem to have a stellar reputation on the Internet (perhaps better known in the 1990’s) and relatively reasonable prices. But I found there is a 6 month wait to order their products with full payment upfront. Perhaps that isn’t an issue for you, but due to that factor I went with another option. I guess I’ll never know how good their products are.

elliottbnewcombjr

"I’m not dragging a round rock thru my grooves."

It’s been a popular cartridge for over a half decade, with good reason. The denon 103 sounds fantastic if properly used with a SUT.

The late Art Dudley had a fondness for spherical/conical stylus, they are very organic and musical sounding. I'd have to agree.