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Help Selecting a Good Tube Phono Stage?

Hello,

I need some help deciding on an economical tube phono stage for my system. It must be reasonably priced as my wife and I are cooking a baby in the oven. My system consists of a JVC QLY-66F turntable, a Uwe body Denon DL-103R cartridge, a pair of nice Bogen MO100A tube monoblocks, and a vintage pair of Klipsch Cornwall speakers. A nice tube Pre-amp would be nice too but I am thinking that purchasing a phono stage will be more economical. Besides, this is my vinyl only system and a full pre-amp is not required. I do have a Bob's Decices cinemag step-up transformer if needed, but will sell if my new phonostage is flexible enough to use with both MC and MM cartridges.

Thanks in advance for any input.
thebclshow

Showing 5 responses by grinnell

grinnell
1,074 posts
 
I have a decent stock of 12ax and 12au tubes mostly mullards which i think are too dark, tubey, too much mid range so i might look for brighter tubes that might be thiner in the midrange. I have De Capo speakers which may accent the midrange
grinnell
1,074 posts
 
$350 or so will get you a Pro-ject Tube Box SE or II.
Yes i have one for sale at AA but there is another one there cheaper than mine :)

I liked the sound and swapping tubes gives you some change.
if you want to spend around that but want a much better phono stage get a Bottlehead Seduction kit with the CS4 upgrade. Pretty much just a MM stage but the sound is so sweet. Its clean and sweet.

I just got a Wright PP200c and it is even more tube sounding than the Seduction.
grinnell
1,074 posts
 
Dear Tvad,

I just got my WPP200c and wonder if you could give a description of the sound? I know what i hear just want some comparison in my listening.

thanks
grinnell
1,074 posts
 
Thanks TVAD

You confirm what i hear. I have bright 12ax7 tubes in the WPP200c and it helps but it definitely has a bloom in the midtones that is different very rich and organic. I like this the best with classical and the least with rock. It is an amazing sound and very different from the Seduction I have.

I wanted one of these and finally got one (one of the last one made)especially for the two pots so i can adjust balance for my room.
grinnell
1,074 posts
 
I have some RCA5814's in it now with Sylvania 12ax7wa's.

In my tube box se and my primaluna PL2 the sylvania'a are too bright but it opened up the WPP200c
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