Phonostage recommendations under $3K

@larryi,

I hear you on tube phono’s. I am using one in my system. The SunValley tube phono peaked my interest, that’s a very interesting piece. It’s definitely worth trying :-) 

“Thanks for your recommendation. May I know what cartridge you’re pairing with E1?”

I use Dynavector 20 low output on Amadeus Mk2

Accuphase phono card for your E650 ?

I can only recommend Sutherland and Zesto phono stages.  The 20/20 with LPS is well within budget.  If you can scrap together more; I'd recommend the Little Loco for your low-output MC cartridge.  No messing with settings as this unit is transimpedance.  It has taken my rig to another level. 

You could also try to find a used Zesto Andros tube based phono stage, which I owned for a few years and sounded wonderful too.  I just got lazy with turning the thing on and off etc.  

Good luck!

To Mullvelling
Any news on  the Hagerman trumpet mc ?
Thanks

Ok, I had my Herron phono back from Keith for a month with new tubes and 2A upgrade. Very impressed with the product and support Keith provides. Warm, dead quiet and easy to use and set-up! For $2500 on the used market, this is a no-brainer. I will be listing my SS phonos and unneeded SUTs in the months to come. They are good, but not on the same level as the Herron phono.

Any news about the audition of Aurorasound Vida ? 

Nope, the US dealer who also happens to be the distributor of Vida apparently not interested in dishing out a demo piece. My email / phone call to Alfred did not get a reply. Oh well, may be I get lucky with a used piece. 

mulveling,

Did you get your Hagerman MC Trumpet?

Update:

I brought in phono board option to compare with EAT e-Glo. It’s been three weeks listening through AD-50 and much to my surprise, it has surpassed my expectations. The sound is every bit Accuphase is known for.....warm, delicious and detailed without any harshness. I would say Accuphase has done a incredible job of not calling any attention to AD-50. Whenever I am listening to Vinyl, I am no longer ‘distracted’ by impedance and gain adjustments as one may be with any phono stage that has on the fly impedance and gain adjustments :-)
Also AD-50 is dead quiet compared to the two external phono stages (SS and tube) I’ve tried prior to inserting AD-50 in my system.

http://www.accuphase.com/cat/ad-50_e.pdf

For now AD-50 is a keeper and stone cold bargain at $1K. I would like to acknowledge @robelvick for his feedback and encouragement to try the AD-50.

My analog setup: SME Model 15 ➡️ SME 309 Tonearm ➡️ Hana Umami Red Cart ➡️ Audio Envy Phono Deluxe DIN>RCA cable ➡️ Accuphase E-650 w/AD-50 phono board.

@larryi,

The audition of SunValley EQ1616D will have to wait until Victor Kung / Kevin Carter can meet the demand. I think they are experiencing a huge production backlog.