MC Phono preamp gains

If and when you consider the Rhea, a point to keep in mind is that its highish and frequency-dependent output impedance would be non-optimal if the input impedance of your line-stage is less than around 30K balanced and perhaps 20K or so unbalanced. See the second paragraph here. Also, if unbalanced interconnections to the line stage are used, and if the length of those cables is particularly long (e.g. 15 or 20 feet or so), it would be best to choose cables having low capacitance per unit length (e.g., less than say 25 pf/foot).

Regards,
-- Al

Ihcho, if you're looking for MM premps (and you need 3 of them or one with 3 imput) why no try 3 different things with your cartridges and keep the best. So many MM preamps available, if you will search audiogon for preamp thread you will see at least 5 decent options to buy and they are not expensive.

Chakster,
I ended up having two turntables. One turntable has two arms. I use one arm for mono, and the the two for stereos. Some of my LPs are not in pristine condition, but I still listen to them. So I use more expensive cartridges (Ortofon SPUs) for mint LPs and use less expensive cartridges (Denon, Audio Technica, ...) for non-mint LPs.
I currently have two phono stages for three arms, so I need to change cables from time to time.
I am thinking of selling them and buying one that has two/three inputs. Or, I can keep the other two and buy a decent phono that supports one input.
I didn't know about Rhea, and it appears to work well with my setup. The only problem is, I don't have enough budge for it, and I need to sell the other two afford it.

You can use one tonearm for VG vinyl, next one for VG+ and third for Mint- to be correct with your grading (just kidding).

Almarg, Re your comments on the Rhea. I own a Janus, recently inherited from the estate of a friend. I was poking around in it, and it seems that the output from its phono section is a 6992 used as a plate-follower, rather than as a cathode follower, as one might otherwise have expected. This topology would indeed give it a rather high-ish output impedance, but in the Janus, the phono section only has to drive the built-in line stage. Does the Rhea output stage also consist of a plate-follower? Thanks.