So, maybe this should be in the Pre-amp section as the phono in question is the famous and, judging by the many WTB's enquiring after it, much sought after Doge 8.
I've been after a good quality phono for eons now, thoroughly exhausting the good-will of many Perth owners who have lent me phono's to help me in my quest or to maybe sell on their unwanted examples. many thanks again to all, I'm sure you are rolling your eyes at the thought of me STILL unable to decide and commit.
Several times I've looked at this pre as a remedy to my problem but, perhaps from a little sub-conscious snobbery, dismissed it. After all it's from China, and easy to dismiss as no where near high-end, how could it be when there is so much fancy gear with high-end reputations from countries renown for the excellence of their hi-fi. Not only that, it is primarily a pre, so I'd be buying lots of components parts that I don't really need, now where's the sense in that. (Except that I do fancy having the volume control into my active SGR's with it's tube smoothness.)
And yet, a few times on my lack-lustre search I've come across this article by Arthur Salvatore http://www.high-endaudio.com/RC-PhonoStages.html#Int which expounds the qualities of various stages and says this of the Doge 8:
This brings us to the other option: Traditional Preamplifiers (with MC stages). Here, when not counting "custom-made models", there are two models, with prices at either extreme, which, in our experience, dominate the field. At the lower end is the Doge 8, which sells for less than $ 1,500. Considering everything (performance, build quality, flexibility, "looks" & inflation), the Doge 8 may be the best preamplifier value in the history of audio.
The only real competition the Doge 8 has, from between $ 1,000 to $ 5,000 (the CSPS), are from the best used preamplifiers of the past (MFA Luminescence, ARC SP-10/11, CAT etc.), and even then there will be trade-offs and "taste" involved. In fact, the second dominating preamplifier, which, we can finally state, is unquestionably better than the Doge 8, is in a completely different price league...
I next checked it out on the Doge web-site, which is a bit disorganised but got the general gist, and followed up with a couple of enquiries to their sales team. Coincidentally I spotted a WTB in the classifieds here for a Doge 8, so sent him this reply
Hi Art-b,
I have been considering the Doge for some time and been in contact with the factory to buy direct, here's the edited email(s) I received.
Don't know what price you anticipate spending on a used one but this price seems pretty good, I think I prefer this black to the chrome they used to produce too.
Marc / Doge customer service [mailto:marc@doge-audio.com]
First of all, please find some Doge 8 LP pictures attached.
Price is $1,329 including delivery to you front door, Paypal or CC fees, and two years warranty served in your country. Unfortunately for you, all our quote are in USD, as we can't receive AUD.
If you prefer traditional bank wire transfer, we remove 3.5% off this price.
Units are in stock. We need 2/3 days to prepare the order after payment collection and DHL transit time is 5/6 days.
*regarding the phono stage, it is not a problem, we can reinstall you the MM/MC phono stage. The only thing is that we will have to use one of the current capacitance switch selector (which didn't exist before Doge 8LP) to become the MM/MC switch choice.
We charge this mod $50 because it is half day of job. So you can enjoy both MM and MC and enjoy a 100% tube preamp phono.
*The reference to phono was 'cos I mentioned the new phono 8LP had no MC stage (the old model did) and although I don't run an MC at present I may do so in future. I don't really need a multi-input pre-amp but want a phono-stage with volume control, the Doge is considered by some as comparable to the best up to 5/6-grand. Can't say if this is so as I haven't heard one but at that price.........
Hope this helps,
Ged
P.S. sorry for the huge pic's. 
A further reply to Art-b suggested that the Doge would not be comparable to another of the Phono's I've considered (had on loan), the GS Reflex M despite the Doge 8's glowing report from Arthur.
After all that, how do others on here rate the Doge? Anyone agree with Arthur that you need to spend 5 big one's to beat it?