What is the Phono stage you have finished with?

VTL TP6.5: after I've heard quite a lot of other phono preamps, like Tron, Tom Evans, Aesthetic, Nagra, Blue Amp, Audia Flight, ASR.

A Simaudio LP5.3

the quality performance on your analog rig will be the quality performance on the " poorer/poorly " link on that analog chain and IMHO that line stage ( where the cartridge signal must pass ) that you own is that " poor/weak " link, so IMHO it will be a better choice/alternative to see the phono stage change ( for a quality improvement ) like a whole: pho/line stages, as a fact and IMHO these two stages most be in reality one integrated ( synergy ) unit.

IMHO it does not make sense to buy a " Ferrari " with bicycle tyres.

Agree with Rauliruegas -

Hence, the Leben RS-30EQ

Tube rolling to this day...

Raul is correct- as soon as you break the phono stage out to a seperate box, you have an connectivity problem with whatever is downstream.

You see, one of the functions of a line stage is to control the interconnect cable. I don't see any phono stage that is really designed to do that, so the interconnect between the phono section and whatever follows (line stage, power amp) is critical. Then there is the matter of the volume control... a passive control and the attendant interconnections only offer more coloration rather than less, as well as a reduction of impact. As soon as you have these features built into a phono section (to get around these issues), you essentially have a full function preamp that is otherwise lacking the the switching and aux inputs.

I beg to differ in your comment "as soon as you break the phono stage out to a seperate box, you have an connectivity problem with whatever is downstream. You see, one of the functions of a line stage is to control the interconnect cable. I don't see any phono stage that is really designed to do that, so the interconnect between the phono section and whatever follows (line stage, power amp) is critical."

You can't use such a globally all-inclusive statement like that. It very much depends on the designer as to whether a phono stage has been appropriately designed to work with other components. I have zero problems with my Herron phono stage interacting with my Herron cables into my Herron line stage interacting with the downstream Herron cables into my Herron amps. I know for a first-hand fact that the phono stage was designed to interact with other quality components upstream and downstream.

I think ARC also tests their components extensively for good interaction as do some others.

Can't speak for some of the other less expensive phono stages. Maybe that's what your referring to.

I do agree with your statement regarding a passive volume control.