Thanks for the recommendation Teddy - I've ordered one for a friend who's just about to dive into vinyl for the first time. If it's as good as you say then it's what the market has needed for a long time. I'll give it a run against my Manley 'Steelhead' when it arrives and report back.
I'll be interested as I gave up the overpriced, temperamental idiocy of moving coils after spending a fortune over the decades on the stupid things.
I now run a Garrot 'Optim' FGS with ruby cantilever for stereo http://www.garrottbrothers.com/, a Garrot Bros re-build Decca 'London' for mono and a Shure M97xE. Replace the Shure M97xE's stylus with one from JICO http://stylus.export-japan.com/sas.php & this combination becomes the absolute screaming bargain of the analogue world far outstripping many four figure moving coils. Snob owners of expensive moving coils refuse to believe this but that's their loss.
If anyone here decides to explore the M97xE with JICO stylus install it with a small piece of Blutac wedged between the headshell and cartridge body and try to load it with 57ohms rather than the usual 47. You'll be amazed ! ! !

The Needle Doctor has run them at the same price on and off over the last year. MF said it was a pretty decent piece and for the money, very good.

What on earth are those three strange little clear plastic tubes at the rear for?