Advice on Phono Stage

You know, that is a kind of question like: what colour for my car should I choose ? I am a little bit joking.
I know some of your equipment very well ( Cardas, Pass amps, Benz system ).
This is only my opinion, so no one should be dissapointed, the ARC Phono is a nice unit, but it is not an excellent one, it uses Tubes right, but it is sounding ice cold and I think that is the reason why you ask for help.
I think there are a few units available which will satisfy you:
These sound not really warm, they sound right !( and a world class better than an ARC )
Jeff Rowland Phono stage ( doesn't matter which one )
Stan Klyne Model 7
the list is of course not complete but from these I know they go the way you need.
With tube phono amps I am not so well informed, but I heard the Aesthetix is interesting and maybe the Hovland ( Integrated preamp ) but this can be noisy.
That you will definetly hear when using Threshold and Pass amplification.

passive pre is a good suggestion. try tim at luminous audio for a passive pre called the axiom
luminous@cavtel.net i like the one i have. kurt

the musical surroundings phenomena is very good and very affordable ($600 msrp- often discounted). -kelly

What is wrong with tubes? I recently traded up from an ARC PH3 to a used Aesthetix Io and was so blown away I subsequently purchased the companion Callisto line stage. These are world class pieces with the stock tubes in 'em and with low noise NOS tube selections in the right spots...

Thomasheisig I think you hit the nail right on the head. I think cold may have been the description I was looking for. The PH3 does have tubes, but you would never know it by the way it sounds. I have a ARC CD2 cd player that sounds more natural and it is all SS. They are both made by the same company and their sonic signature is different. You are the second person that mentioned the Klyne. It may be what I'm looking for. Thanks for the advice.