Title kind of speaks for itself. SS stongly preferred. Needs to be able to handle either a MM or high output MC. Something that would work well with an AR ES1.
I have heard good things about the new Jolida from a friend who bought one. Paid $350 from Walter at Underwood HiFi. Uses 2 x 12AX7 tubes. He has the stock not modified unit.
There is a little known small box phono pre with user adjustable gain from Australia called Redgum superb very musical presentation. A little more than the Bellari and SS, but friends of mine are generally stunned by its quality -for a little box pre. You can find them here at an Agon dealer Quest for Sound. No it doesn't compare to a Supratek but it's really very good for the money. See if you can audition one. No I have no affiliation financial or otherwise with either Redgum or the Dealer. I just stumbled into it.
I was hoping to stay below or around $500. I read the Bellari review. It sounds nice but may be a little warm. The ES1 is characteristically sort of a closed sounding table, and I'm not sure how something that's being decsribed primarily as "warm" might work with it.
The Bellari is $199.95 and going to $250 in February. As I understand it a couple of places are already sold out. It is a tubed unit and good for mm as well as high out put mc cartridges. I am not affiliated with the company in any way don't own it and never heard it, just read the review because I was interested. Oh yes it also doubles as a headphone amp.
Tha Belari VP-129 got a great write up in the latest issue of Stereophile. Attached is the web site it can be bought from Elusive disc and amusic direct as well.
You must have a verified phone number and physical address in order to post in the Audiogon Forums. Please return to Audiogon.com and complete this step. If you have any questions please contact Support.
