Phono preamp evolution

Past 5 yrs
1- Mcintosh C2200 w/ MM
2- Sutherland PHD
3- Manley Steelhead
4- The Stunning Mcintosh C2300
5- TronSeven reference Phono Preamp

i must admit that my focus on phono preamp was pretty poor until recently. I started with the phono stepup built into my sansui for years then when i moved to a yamaha i brought a cheap battery powered stepup from radioshack for my mm shure cartridge. Once i purchased my first mc, i recognized i could not use the ratshack stepup and purchased a rotel 970. That lasted several years and i purchased a vandersteen ol1 that i used in combination with the rotel with what i thought was good success until a friend loaned his jolida tube phono. I was very surprised at the impact and started looking for a replacement. I had started using the zyx cartridges and finally picked up the artisan by zyx. I use it with my Airy3s and UNIverse cartridges. Very pleased with the results.

I have for the past year or so been trying a few other phono pres and head amps and SUTs (all vintage Japanese units). I have been impressed with some of the low impedance SUTs, and a couple of the head amps. One head amp in particular has shocked me as to how good it is, so much so that I bought a second for parts. I had heretofore never thought about writing a review and I may, so I will leave it nameless until I do decide. However, my eyes continue to be opened...

2006 till now Graham Slee Era Gold V + Elevator EXP + two PSU-1 power supplies.

Not the best in the industry of giants and gigantic prices, but definitely a very enjoyable and musical phono stage. I have been very happy with this set up and might go for a Reflex M soon.

Benjamin record player w/ integral phono stage
Marantz SR 1000 receiver's phono stage
NAD 7140 receiver's phono stage
Acoustat TNP (internal phono stage)
ARC SP11 Mk II (internal phono stage)
Vendetta SCP2-B (should never have sold)
Jadis JP80 MC (internal phono stage)
Lamm LP2 Deluxe (used primarily; also used my Jadis JP200MC phono stage on low gain recordings)
Unnamed prototype phono stage made by a member of our audio society (and yes, it's good enough to my ears for me to have replaced the Lamm!)