VAC Signature Mk IIa Preamplifier with phono?

As an owner of the VAC Signature 2a with phono I'd give a thumbs up to adding the phono. I had an Audio Research PH-7 and the VAC phono outclassed it in every way; detail, extension, musicality, naturalness, etc. I have gotten to know Kevin Hayes better over the last several years and know he favors LP playback to digital (although his first DAC still sounds better than many new DACs today) and he designed the phono stage inside the Signature 2a to please his ear! You won't be disappointed. To be sure, hang onto the Rhea, give the Signature a few hundred hours of break in and then decide for yourself. You can tube roll the phono stage too if you want to someday experiment with different presentation.

These have been extremely useful comments (thanks guys!) and I almost decided to add the phono section until I thought about my Grado Statement 1 that I love. It is a MM with .5MV output at 47K load. I have my Rhea set at 56dB gain thus I fear the VAC 44db won’t work.

Yes, well worth the investment - Kevin is a huge analog fan and builds great phono stages. i have owned several preamps of his and enjoyed the phono stage. you will eliminate cost of cables and have better resale too.

Skinzy, the Signature has a setting for MM so you'll be fine. Add the phono stage, you won't regret it.

Hifimaniac, I am desperate to add the phono as it's not really a cost issue but the MM Load only goes to 480 ohms which will kill the treble. Any way to solve this?