Another step up option is of course the valve head amp. I made one and used it for a couple of years, 4 triodes in parallel per channel. VERY good sound but rather impractical for all but the really keen as only the lowest noise samples of valves available can be used.... A valve which seems totally quiet in an MM phono stage can hiss and crackle like hell when used in this sensitive an application! I got sick of trying to keep it in valves which were quiet enough in the end.... A good set could start to go off and produce rustling sounds etc sometimes in as little as a week or two after fitting them
I have heard that some disc seal microwave triodes can be much more reliable and quieter in this application but I haven't tried them myself, mine used 4 x ECC88.
It seems a non starter as a commercial product on the grounds that one cannot really sell a valve head amp to someone with the caveat that "although the unit itself is guaranteed for 10 years I can't guarantee the valves for even a week and you are on your own on the valve front"....
Arkless Electronics-Engineered to be better. Tel. 01670 530674 (after 1pm)
Modded Thorens TD150, Audio Technica AT-1005 MkII, Technics EPC-300MC, Arkless Hybrid MC phono stage, Arkless passive pre, Arkless 50WPC Class A SS power amp, (or) Arkless modded Leak Stereo 20, Modded Kef Reference 105/3's
ReVox PR99, Studer B62, Ferrograph Series 7, Tandberg TCD440, Hitachi FT-5500MkI, also FT-5500MkII
Digital: Yamaha CDR-HD1500 (Digital Swiss army knife-CD recorder, player, hard drive, DAC and ADC in one), PC files via 24/96 sound card and SPDIF, modded Philips CD850, modded Philips CD104, modded DPA Little Bit DAC. Sennheiser HD580 cans with Arkless Headphone amp.
Cables- free interconnects that come with CD players, mains leads from B&Q, dead kettles etc, extension leads from Tesco