The phono stage application has a very small input voltage and comparatively( to power valve grid ) small output. This leaves it swinging a small proportion of its maximum. this looks to me to make the general topology a bit less important. Picture a traditional SE 2A3 ampllifier with a few tens of mV on the power stage grid. I think the distortion spectrum ( and overall amount as well ) would be of some characteristic shape fpr a properly loaded and driven 2A3.

On the 'SE Sound', I have heard a difference and was curious about moving towards quantifying it. I know my Class A PP amps don't have it...

Its why I made reference to battle, if that is brought to the front, perhaps thinking along those lines would help keep folks from typing frirst and thinking later. A few have made reference to that sort of thing, and there has been no unpleasantness as of this time( that I have read so far ).

more like looking for interesting and passionate discussion.
regards,
Douglas