I have one thought about your question, apart from the phono stage consideration,but regarding your desire to "not get the upgrade bug so fast". If you want to go with Musical Fidelity- I have had four of their pieces in the past and think they are fine products- I would choose the A5.5 over the A3.5 for power reasons. If you eventually become interested in other speakers you may need the extra power. I suggest you settle what power requirements you are looking for in an integrated amp first. Then think through the phono stage. Just a thought.
Phono Input in the Musical Fidelity A5.5???
I am a newbie and I am building my system from the ground up. I am trying to use quality equipment so I will not get the upgrade bug so fast. I am seriously considering the Musical Fidelity A5.5 Integrated Amp for an upgrade in my system (I am currently using a Marantz SR-6400). It will be joining a ClearAudio Emotion TT with Kirksaeter Prisma 210 speakers. What I am wondering is how is the quality of the onboard phono stage on this amp, or is it better to go with the A3.5 and with an external phono stage (ClearAudio Nano)?