Looking for the best Preamp with a phono circuit built in

ketchup, the Positive Feedback pic is of the AI line stage, not the full function (with phono circuit) preamp. There is a reason why AI did this for their line stage. The left+right trim pots control balance and enabling a third pot to control master volume provides convenience for the headphone amp (plus the 2 main outputs).

ketchup, per discerning your hearing differences vs environment, go listen to music reproduction in several different environments. That should resolve the hearing differences vs environment differences issue. 

You might want to rethink the choice of a combo pre amp/ phono amp. My thought would be to get a nice preamp like the deHavilland Ultraverve and the a separate phono i.e.. Dynavector makes a nice one that is not expensive and so does Graham Slee. Under a grand and very small foot print that will fit along side your preamp or table. Much much better sound then an combo.

sra, 

Have you actually owned or had an Audible Illusions full preamp in your system to know if what you say is true?  I now have a TRL DUDE with many upgrades, plus I've been looking for the phono preamp that can do equal justice and sound as goo as the AI John Curl MC phono section did.  Forget about the extra expense of high end power cords extra, hi end fuses, and extra hi end interconnects.  My clarity has picked up along with the dynamics with my step up from the AI 3A, but the DUDE is among the finest sounding preamps out there, even now.  That phono section is still great sounding as was the CD input.  

 That phono section is still great sounding as was the CD input.  

IME the phono section should sound better...