This is a great machine.
Mind you, I can't claim to have listened at any great length to the world's "finest" phono amps. But I can say I've listend to a lot...and I'm glad I took the good counsel of someone at Audio Asylum and purchased this uint.
Knowing the famously pragmatic Mr. VA would not approve, I'll also say that I rolled the stock EH 12AX7's for a pair of Telefunken OS with great results. I went back and rolled the EH's back in, then followed with a pair of Phillips Army/Navy NOS.
The TKF's were by far the quietest, most refined tubes and in they stay (but I'd love to try the Mazdas).
I also replaced the stock, rubber feet with Mapleshade Conepoints.
AVA is a great, high-value company that I hope gains more recognition in the audiophile community. The customer service is supurb and the "wait" is explained with hand-made reality in mind...but in my case beat the promise by well over a week.
"High value" still ain't cheap, by any measure. That said, I'd bitch just a little about the RCA jacks. $700.00 for a phono stage and I would have liked a little more "WBT" style heft to the plugs. And sooner or later, Mr. VA should consider letting go of the fixed AC cord thing.
One last thing: If you're going this route, listen to the man and spend the extra thirty bucks for an internal tranny: that way you have options in the low-output cartridge zone.
I started with the AVA T-6 using a Shure M97xE Moving Magnet and have since graduated to a Dynavector DV20X High-Output Moving Coil. The AVA T-6 delivers flawlesly with the high output DV. But the internal power option, for the price of a good chunk of Stilton, is something I regret passing on (PS: They're Minnesotan's, so they can't bring themselves to really "push" anything, as that would be too, well, pushy. Hell, I lived there so I can say so).
Have fun.
-bosh