Is it really worth it to get a phono stage over $10k
And, even though some question the cosmetics of Zesto Audio, I think they are, by far, the most beautiful components ever! Big WAF...George Counnas’s wife Carolyn does the industrial design for Zesto......very nice lady. always enjoy their rooms, and seeing them at shows. i like their gear too, it’s maybe a bit ’tubey’ sounding for me, if only a bit. that's for my particular system. |
@lewm Mike, what did you think of the CTC blowtorch, when you had it in your system? It would seem that you didn’t fall completely in love, or else you would still own it. this was in 2002 when my friend and dear departed Bob Crump (the second ’C’ in CTC) visited me and left me his Blowtorch for a few days to try in my system. at that time i was using a Lamm LP2 phono + a passive Placette RVC. my view was that the Vendetta phono was very dynamic, but also a bit ’hard’ and slightly metallic sounding....not my cup of tea. so i never owned it or lived with it long term. at that time i had 75 watt Tenor OTL amplifiers, and Kharma Exquisite 1D speakers. this was a year before i moved to my new home with the barn. |
your tt, arm and cartridge are very good. and will be able to take advantage of the next level of phone stage beyond where you are. i’ve had the CTC Blowtorch preamp in my system many years ago, which had Curl’s Vendetta phono circuit. so i know that sound. yes; there is a ’next’ level of phono stages. one version of the next level, especially with your beautiful Garrard 301, would be to use a MM 40db output and get a silver wound SUT. i just acquired the silver EMIA 1:10 SUT for my Etsuro Gold cartridge on the Saskia idler turntable and it’s a match made in heaven. not familiar enough with the M3B to know if it has a MM input. http://myemia.com/SUT.html a great silver wound SUT brings a level of sexyness that has to be heard to be believed. not cheap, but not crazy expensive either. |
