I have a fully tricked-out, custom Bear Labs phono preamp up for sale. The unit consists of a huge power supply (stainless steel box w/ Mullard 5ar4 and huge power transformer) and a separate passive equalization section retrofitted into a JC Morrison enclosure (very dark blue gloss w/ black granite (corian?) front). The phonostage handles both MM and MC. The latter being accomplished using internal vintage UTC transformers and FET. Due to its age the cosmetic mesh on the power supply cable to the equalization section is showing wear (the power supply wires show no wear (only a cosmetic issue)). I have some excellent tubes in this phono section- 1 pair of Western Electric 417a, Mullard 5ar4, 1 pair of RCA-branded 1960s Seimens ecc85s, 1 pair 1960s Amperex Bugle Boy 12au7s, 1950s RCA 6av5, Genelex 12at7, Sylvania 5651, etc. I have a full complement of replacement tubes of varying brands but still of excellent quality (Seimens ecc82s, Seimens 801s (1980s), Tung Sol, Sylvania 6av5s, General-Electric branded Amperex ecc85s (1960's), multiple other tubes that will come with this purchase. If you wish to purchase the phono preamp, without the Amperex BB 12au7s, Seimens ecc85s, Seimens 801s, and genelex 12at7, I will sell the phono preamp for $750. The internal stepup is loaded by plug in (tube type) resistors. I have a full complement of these (you can make your own as well). From my experience, If you have a medium low MC cart to MM cart, the gain should be adequate. If you have a very low MC and do not use a SUT, I would not recommend the internal gain system. I have a very low output MC (Denon DL-S1) hence the sale. For all cartridges that fall within this recommended output, the phono stage sounds great and is built to last. This is a true custom audio piece-- It was very expensive using fantastic components. At this price it is a steal. It is all point-to-point wiring, copper lined w/ copper platforms for components, vintage transformers, Dick Sequerra caps, etc. The input 417a's are mounted on a copper shock-mounted platform along with the ecc85s. The custom builder link and "showcase" of the phono stage is here (scroll down a bit to find the 417a phono stage): http://www.bearlabs.com/SHOWCASE/SHOWCASE.html I am trying to minimize the real estate that my system occupies and plan to move to a smaller solid-state phonostage (for better or for worse). The price is firm. Pick up in Brooklyn, NYC only.