Pre-amplifer for magnetic phono pick-up.

[Murphyv310]

I designed a valve phono amplifier, see attached diagram. It's a tad short on gain, but (to me) works surprisingly well.

The first stage is configured as a voltage-to-current converter, operating into the virtual earth of the second stage grid. So the signal voltage on the anode is peanuts. It's linearised by the unbypassed cathode resistor (so a DC heater would be nice for ultimate lowness in hum, and a floating heater line is a definite no-no!). The second stage is a transconductance current-to-voltage converter, with frequency-selective feedback around it.

Hi.
Could you explain the theory around both stagesc please.
In my understanding the first stage uses an bypassed cathode to introduce degenerative negative feedback, the values and type of triode also to me look like a standard voltage amplifier. I also don't see how the second stage is a virtual earth amp, put me right though if I'm missing something.