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Phono Stage or TT upgrade

Ok gang, here is the current quandry. To upgrade my phono stage or my TT. System as of now

Dynavector D 17 MK II Karat ( love it and it will stay )
Rega P 25 w/ RB 600, VTA adjust and no other mods.
Dynavector P 75 MK I phono pre

Ayre K1Xe Line Stage
Ayre V3 w/ Rev 3 boards and Ayre Conditioner
Dunlavy SC-IV improved

I just sold a Tom Evans Groove + SRX and wish I had never tried it in the system. It was more explosive, coherent, deeper, faster and open than the Dynavector P-75.
I have a chance to do a change to a VPI Classic with the HXR center weight and keep using my D-17 MK II and P 75 MK I. Local sale and known seller. I love the Scout and Scoutmaster but have not spent any time with the classic.
The other option would be to upgrade the phono stage. I am not afraid of tubes but QUIET is an absolute necessity. I am just over chasing down a noisy 12AX7 or 6SN7 every few months.
Overall I am looking for more slam ,speed and dynamics than the current combo. My budget is in the $1500-2000 range and fairly strict at the upper limit.

Any ideas?
128x128meadowman

Showing 2 responses by meadowman

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meadowman OP
140 posts
 
Stanwal: The groove was part of a full Tom Evans rig that I bought to help out a pal's widow. I never meant to listen to it, just to move the gear and recoup some money for her.

Learsfool: The P 25 (IMHO) out classes the P3-24 any day and I personally like the 25s PRAT better than the P 5. The P 25 was the 25th anniversary Rega and was far beyond the P3 of it's day.

Cod: Great point. Since the current TT/Cart was able to give enough to the Groove to show the differences I like, maybe phono stage is best.
meadowman's avatar
meadowman OP
140 posts
 
Clio99: I have tried the P5Xe in my rig with the D 17 MK II and found it very noisy. As in almost a tube rush like sound that was audible from the listening position even over moderate volume playback. Ayre advised this was "normal" with super low output carts like the Dynavector.

I am on the trail of a matching Simaudio Moon lp5.3 plus power supply. Good hunting!
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