I have recently upgraded from my faithfull Kuzma Stabi 1 with Rega RB/300 to
entirely different (but also Kuzma!) Stabi2 with Stogi tonearm.
Cartridge, at the moment, is still the same: Denon DL-103.
This is to be replaced soon with Benz Micro Ruby 2 Open Air (and Denon might
get retipping, we shall see about that, too).
Other cart alternative is Grado Reference, which may be an easier load
(output, preload and gain considered), but as I see it (hear it, rather), it
tends to sound a tad too 'sweet': I prefer Ruby to it.

Changes in sound with new base and tonearm are significant (I won't go into
details here) , and I think the phono preamp upgrade may be in order.
Current device at this place is (must admit that I am a bit ashamed of this)
Musical Fidelity's X-LPS: not bad for the price, but believe this rig now
deserves something better.

I was thinking maybe some Muse (Model One - it's been discounted), or even
Benz Lukaschek PP-1 phono would do.
Trouble with Muse is, as I hear, it makes it inappropriate for low-output MC
carts: and both Ruby and Denon are such.
There is also some custom-made phono here, from a designer whom I can trust
(he makes serious enough stuff): audition would, of course, be appropriate
way to evaluate it.
I am still trying to steer clear of some valve designs, since there is some
space at premium in my listening room and I don't feel comfortable with
tubes in general.

Please recommend something up to, say, $900 (new or used) that would make
sense in such setup.
Also, I would like to make it possible to last thru the future upgrades (if
some) of the analogue stuff, but not so much to make this purchase of phono
preamp an instant overkill (yeah, I know: sounds complicated -- because it
is).
If anyone has had some hands-on experience with any of those preamps, please
feel free to write few impressions: that would be useful and very nice.

Hope someone can help and sorry for lengthy post.

Thanks & Respekt,
Josip

--
The difference between Theory and Practice is much greater in Practice than
it is in Theory.