Ah. Right, then :)
Pick A Tube Phono Preamp, but not just any Tube Phono Preamp
I am hoping some of the experts will help with the decision, I'm an audiophile newbie but learning much from the people here! One thing I have learned is that everything is in synergy, so a $30K preamp is out of place with a $1K amp. I already know I don't have the money to purchase truly exotic audiophile quality, somewhere I read you can get 90% of the way there at 30% of the price.
The tube phono preams are in the $1500 - $2000 range, but of course less $ would be OK if the quality is still there, and purchasing used here extends the possibilities.
I have a HOMC cartridge, Dynavector 10X5. I can't ever see getting a truly exotic LOMC cartridge, but maybe at some point I'd look for an upgraded MC cartridge. The 10X5 seems truly excellent though, but that is for a different time.
I'm thinking of an Allnic H1201, a bit beyond the upper $2000, the Eastern Electric Minimax Phono, which even new is $1500, and used is less, the Audible Illusions Modulus 3A, which used is in the range, but I'd be using the MM input, the Decware ZP3, and the EAR 834P. I'm thinking there may be others in the range that people here know of to think about.
The Modulus 3A has several other inputs besides the phono, which seems to be a benefit, but maybe then the phono portion has been a lesser focus than on a strictly phono preamp? The downside is to go to a LOMC cartridge it needs a new replacement board, which isn't tube based so that is a question. I'm thinking people would use a SUT and keep using the MM input, but I could be wrong.
The Eastern Electric just seems to be excellent quality, but it seems a fair amount of the price for it, as many of these, is to accommodate the LOMC cartridges. With the Decware ZP3, if you go with a LOMC, you then have to buy an additional ZMC, and get the correct one based on the cartridge. But that means the ZP3 is focused completely on the MM and HOMC cartridges, which seems to be a good thing. The end result though is that in the end the Decware may end up costing much higher than the $2000 upper limit.
The EAR834P seems to be highly recommended, but many of those recommendations are from people who've had it heavily modified. In factory stock condition it is still well thought of though. It is also possible to get the 834P for only MM, but once again in the long run that would be a questionable choice, it is probably better to get the MM/MC version at a higher price.
So it is a question, and I'll appreciate the opinions.
The tube phono preams are in the $1500 - $2000 range, but of course less $ would be OK if the quality is still there, and purchasing used here extends the possibilities.
I have a HOMC cartridge, Dynavector 10X5. I can't ever see getting a truly exotic LOMC cartridge, but maybe at some point I'd look for an upgraded MC cartridge. The 10X5 seems truly excellent though, but that is for a different time.
I'm thinking of an Allnic H1201, a bit beyond the upper $2000, the Eastern Electric Minimax Phono, which even new is $1500, and used is less, the Audible Illusions Modulus 3A, which used is in the range, but I'd be using the MM input, the Decware ZP3, and the EAR 834P. I'm thinking there may be others in the range that people here know of to think about.
The Modulus 3A has several other inputs besides the phono, which seems to be a benefit, but maybe then the phono portion has been a lesser focus than on a strictly phono preamp? The downside is to go to a LOMC cartridge it needs a new replacement board, which isn't tube based so that is a question. I'm thinking people would use a SUT and keep using the MM input, but I could be wrong.
The Eastern Electric just seems to be excellent quality, but it seems a fair amount of the price for it, as many of these, is to accommodate the LOMC cartridges. With the Decware ZP3, if you go with a LOMC, you then have to buy an additional ZMC, and get the correct one based on the cartridge. But that means the ZP3 is focused completely on the MM and HOMC cartridges, which seems to be a good thing. The end result though is that in the end the Decware may end up costing much higher than the $2000 upper limit.
The EAR834P seems to be highly recommended, but many of those recommendations are from people who've had it heavily modified. In factory stock condition it is still well thought of though. It is also possible to get the 834P for only MM, but once again in the long run that would be a questionable choice, it is probably better to get the MM/MC version at a higher price.
So it is a question, and I'll appreciate the opinions.