Some pictures of my oldies...

[walpurgis]

I don't bugger about with cables, nor do I use filters or anything other than RIAA equalisation.

More or less the same here. I like good quality cables, but don't get obssessed over them. No filters. I don't even bother experimenting with cartridge loading and never get poor results.

[montesquieu]

I don't bugger about with cables, nor do I use filters or anything other than RIAA equalisation.

if you have any mono at all you almost certainly have some records that would sound better with tweaking to the equalisation.

[Barry]

if you have any mono at all you almost certainly have some records that would sound better with tweaking to the equalisation.

Why, if they were recorded using RIAA?

[montesquieu]

Not mega expensive for a preamp if the last ebay sale is anything to go by ... https://www.ebay.com/itm/Harman-Kard...p2047675.l2557 I might just look out for one to play with.