I have been using an ASR Basis Exclusive phono stage for years. I believe it is circa 2005. I also believe the newest units have a slight circuit change, which is comprised mostly of a newer main chip. I inquired what the upgrade would cost from the importer and it was over $100 so I bought the chip myself and installed it for about $3. Let me say this. I have owned a great many products. Lots of ARC, Rowland, Krell, Pass, Levinson etc. I am now running a VTL 7.5 III preamp and Siegfried amps. No product, I repeat, no product, has given me more pleasure than the ASR phonostage. I think it's a killer. It replaced the ARC reference unit of the day and I have not looked back.
Look, audio gear falls in and out of favor with every new cover of every issue of TAS or Stereophile. To the astute consumer, there could very well be SOA gear lurking around from a few years ago that is every bit competitive with what is being reviewed today, but for one reason or other, has fallen out of favor (bad importer? distributor? etc?). I think this is the case with ASR. Their gear is stupendous and its no surprise that HP once raved about the phono stage. I think in many cases, you can grab an ASR piece of gear at a very affordable price and consider it a whopping purchase. In many ways, this is as good as solid state gets. Quiet as anything made. No AC line noise is half the key. Great design is the other. That nobody really carries this gear enthusiastically anymore is ASR's loss but your gain! They simply make great sounding; reliable as hell gear. I would think an Emitter I or II would be a perfect marriage with Quads. Everyone wants a solid state amp that doesn't sound like SS. Well, here you go! Let your ears be your guide.