Best phono stage balanced under $3000 used

Absolutely agree on the Rhea. Got mine here for $2,200 - $600 in tubes and I'm in heaven.

Both my PS Audio GCPH and SimAudio LP5.3 have balanced inputs and outputs. My Classe 30 has balanced inputs and outputs and my Classe CA100 has balanced inputs. I assume they are electrically correct. So if I run this balanced phono cable from my SME345 to either phono preamp, I should have a fully balanced output at the end. I think

Manitunc, the advantage of running the cartridge balanced is the fact that the balanced cable will have no effect on the sound.

The balanced system was in fact devised to eliminate cable artifacts. In doing so cable length is less important as is the cost. So if you have spent either a great deal of time auditioning single ended cables, or have spent a lot of money for the one you thought sounded right, with a balanced setup neither the former or latter will be necessary.

Sounds like a good thing