I can't compete on the technical descriptions, which are helpful by the way. In fact I have just changed from a good SS conventional phono stage, the Clearaudio reference, to a K&K phonostage. The lateral is a JFet/tube hybrid with Lundahl transformers. In the past I have tried Tom Evans and Trichord stages too. The K&K is head and shoulders above the rest, more detail, much more dynamic, much quieter, no better imaging, but every other parameter is better. Is that because transformers are intinsically better than active gain stages? I am sure it is because in this case, the K&K is a better thought out design.
At the risk of being obvious, are'nt you dealing with a set of compromises particular in good as opposed to the best gear. For most of us buying the good, it may not matter if the phonostage is active or with transformers, or the amp is SS or tubed, what matters is the skill of the design, which in turn depends on the balance of compromises made. There are still compromises with the "ultimate", design, such as the boulder. Perhaps its more interesting to discuss which way you would design the best stage you could build, at any cost, would that be active or transformer based? I don;t know the answer.
At the risk of being obvious, are'nt you dealing with a set of compromises particular in good as opposed to the best gear. For most of us buying the good, it may not matter if the phonostage is active or with transformers, or the amp is SS or tubed, what matters is the skill of the design, which in turn depends on the balance of compromises made. There are still compromises with the "ultimate", design, such as the boulder. Perhaps its more interesting to discuss which way you would design the best stage you could build, at any cost, would that be active or transformer based? I don;t know the answer.