Ok, I think I'm finally there.
I switched off the tube buffer, removed the tube (Ahhh. no more hiss) and put a transformer between my phono amp and the Virtue that 'amplifies'the signal two times (the phono gives somewhat less than 0.8 V) and now the little thing really rocks.
All that's left to do now is save up for a battery thing and listen happily ever after.
Try and explain all this to 'non-audiopiles.'
Jos