Best tube-based phono stage?

I would say that the Aesthetix Io Eclipse has to be among the very best, if it is not the best.

I'll try to pry some more info out of him, thanks.

It sounds like your pal is not into very expensive gear and I think the OM5 cart is MM. I would not go with tube and I love tubes for everything else. The permissible noise level for a phono stage is miniscule the best sounding tubes in terms of tone tend to be old stock which are getting very scarce as truly unused. Used tubes get noisier with some age or so it seems. My whole hearted suggestion from this all tube guy otherwise for about $450 is the Graham Slee Gram Amp 2SE. It is appropriate for MM or high output MC. the sound is far better than its relatively low cost would suggest.

Best? Aesthetix Io Eclipse

Outrageously Excellent? Atma-Sphere MP-1

Would be helpful to know a price range your friend may be willing to work within.
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The delay in post response now makes this site terribly inefficient.