Yeah, but didn't you see that episode of House, M.D. where the girl broke her toe and it was leaking marrow into her bloodstream and making her sick? I mean, I realize it's TV, but still, isn't that sometimes bad?
Send me the jacket, I'll sew another button on it. (I've actually been doing a lot of button-sewing lately, and depending on the button, can probably find one to match.)
Oh, and:
Dude, it's a phono stage, probably the most sensitive component you have.
At least get some good current production tubes -- either these or these.
Ask over at sh.tv.
What they said. I haven't heard the words "cheap" and "mac" together too often (although I consider the minis reasonably priced). Except on ePrey eBay. But I wouldn't get a computer there, unless it was someone you trusted, but if you trusted them, they'd probably not be selling on eBay.