Is there any benefit to a tubed phono stage?

I am sure the response is the same as many other subjects, "it ain't what you do but the way that you do it". In other words it is all in the execution. In theory, tubes are intrinsically more noisy, which should be most important in the area dealing with the smallest input signal, that is, a phono stage. In practice, I use a K&K hybrid phono stage and I have never heard a quieter stage or one less prone to RFI. Then I have'nt heard the best and most expensive phono stages around(not that the best and most expensive are synonymous)

David12, if you like the K&K phono you should check out Kevin and Dave's RAKK DAC. Does for CDs what the K&K phono does for vinyl. Dave's line stage is pretty awesome too.

no there isn't....but it looks cool

Had I not gotten a good deal on a Hagerman Trumpet I would have purchased the K&K phonostage. I own the K&K step-up which I use with the Hagerman and Kevin built me a custom TVC passive preamp using S&B transformers. His work is excellent and he is a pleasure to deal with. I can only imagine what the DAC and linestage sound like.

Benefit, of course!! Solid states are very good ones as well, but with tubes comes Tube rolling and finding what flavor you like, yeah it costs, and yeah it could take some time and knowledge to find the right tubes, but bottom line just like any preamp you can customize the sound.. Solid state is good but will always sound the same or generally anyway, if its too hard sounding or to soft sounding with your cartridge combo you got no choice but to keep messing with cartridge settings or changing it all together, the tube changing should be cheaper and can be more effective. But I would find one with not too many tubes and this will reduce the issue over going crazy with some 8 tube phono pre or something. Just my opinion, but I have had a few hi regard stand alone Solid states, and Built in pre's in solid state preamps, I listen to mostly hard rock, classic rock, and stuff from the beatles on and just found tubes to be much nicer to balance things out, plus I have capabilities to change the input impeadance for MC which really helps match up the cartridge.