OK...I'm getting ready to buy a new Phono pre amp.

The Rhea's flexibility is mighty appealing. When they start showing up used, I may take a look. In the meantime, Rwd, can I buy your ARC?

If you are looking at a bit more wamrth, I doubt going to the Rhea is going to do it. The PH3 is quite warm sounding and the Rhea will add more apparent detail with a nice warm bottom end. I would look at upgrading the pre-amp first as the LS25 is very detailed and will add brightness if your system leans that way.
ps the loading is very system dependant, I currently have my helikon loaed at 47k and it sounds nice and extended, with my old speakers it had to be loaded down to 100ohms.

Dear friend: Great audio system. If you want to improve your quality analog audio reproduction I recomended that you have to change your pream/phono stage ( first ). The best is to buy a preamp with a built in phono stage ( no step up transformer inside ). I can tell you that if you do this then you will hear your records " for the first time ". If you use an outboard phono stage or stepup transformer then you are adding more stages to the signal chain that's comes from your cartridge ( the out board/step up transformer/stage, conectors, cables, etc. ) and doing this you ALWAYS degraded this critical and delicate audio signal. If you love the music: Don't do it any more.
Best regards.
Raul.

Hi Rwd: Now, if you change your Helikon for a better cartridge you can have an improvement in the quality of your analog sound reproduction. When you already have this cartridge then you can think in the phono preamp.
Always enjoy the music.
Raul.

You should try one of Graham Tricker's amps (GT Audio). He has a long pedigree in tube amps and has a small but committed group of devotees. You can find his stuff on http://www.tron-electric.com. I think Jim Smith from Avantgarde USA distributes his gear.

I have heard his tube set up at his house several times. He uses them with a Platine Verdier, Schroeder Reference, Allaerts MC2 Formula and Avantgrade Trios (he is the UK AG distributor). When you turn the volume pot full on phono with the Trios (107 db/W) , all you get is silence. Not only are they deadly quiet, they sound great too. I'm going to buy a Comet soon and sell my JC Verdier Control B. They can come as two box or one box pre-amps (with the phono stage built in). In the UK the one box Comet costs about £3k. The better Meteor costs £6k.