.....but I know Rich really didn't expect the Bottlehead to even come close.
Not true...
Very impressed with your Bottlehead Reduction.
Pre is an old KSL w/KSL phono board I recapped. Long story edited down, a Twisted Pear diy DAC with discrete balanced output sent me shopping for a balanced pre. Was never really as happy with the KSL phono board as my previous SE tube pre w/phono stage despite recapping and had planned to build one. While the KSL phono has MC capability, I use the MM stage with a diy CineMag SUT for my LOMC's (Denon 103R w/aluminum body, Karat 17D3).
Arm is Advanced Analog MG-1 with standard and optional Ultra P Slide Arm Wand. The arm is crude compared to Rockport and the like, but effective.