Tube vs. Solid State Phono Stage

I have all Audio Note gear with a Meishu 300B amp with phono.

I bought a E.A.R. 324 phono and put it in my system.

It blows away the phono in the AN Meishu. If you can find one buy it as soon as you can as it is a world class phono amp.

The Pass would be among the most neutral of the solid state choices and would not be expected to add anything to the sound except gain. You would lose the contribution of "tube sound" from the Cary phono preamp, but you clearly already enjoy the benefits of tube sound via the other amplification components in your electronics chain. Some of these benefits, like soft clipping, are more associated with the power amp anyhow. It should be worth a try -- buy and sell on Audiogon.

I share your sentiments and have lived with a number of tube and hybrid phono stages. Living close to a radio tower, and suffering from high RFI, a solid state phono stage is the best and almost only way for me to eliminate RFI noise in my rig.
Many designers and retailers have used similar thinking in assembling their reference systems. As an example, Lloyd Walker of Walker Audio comes to mind.
Other ss phono stages that you might check out include the Vendetta Research, Klyne, Whest & JLTI. Cheers,
Spencer

I am using an Einstein SS phono stage after being very happy with a number of tube designs. IMO, the Einstein is far and away the best all round performer. Quiet as can be, incredibly dynamic and neutral, the Einstein lets the music through without adding anything nasty, deliverying all the best qualities of music reproduction. I really believe, if you like your amp and your speakers, you will be happy with the Einstein. I will continue to have tubes in my system, but do not feel a need to have them in the phono section.

BTW, the most success I head with tube designs was when using them in conjunction with a Bent Audio step Up transformer. For a tube design alone, I would definately look at the Keith Herron.