Which Lyra Helicon?

0.4mv is a more practical choice. The lower output version is called "SL" and output is rated at 0.22mv not 2.3mv. Unless your future phono preamp has AT LEAST 80db of gain (very hard to find these days new or used) then you may consider the 0.22mv version. The SL version has purer sound compared to the standard version. At $2195, the SL is worth every penny in my opinion.

Audiomax, have you compared the SL to a Transfiguration Temper Supreme?

I don’t think the SL really requires a phono amp with 80 db gain. I am using a standard Helikon with a Krell KPE which has 64db gain and I normally listen at –10db to –6db (10 db to 6 db below unity gain) volume level on the BAT VK-50SE. That means if I bypassed the preamp it would be 6 to 10 db louder. The difference between a Helikon standard and a SL is about 6db. So a low-noise phono amp with gains in the high 60 to low 70 should be enough in most situations.