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Thinking about an Audio Research PH5

Am I nuts? This is a $2000 piece that I can probly get a good deal on from my local dealer since I'm a good customer.My TT is a music Hall MMF9 that they sold me at a Big discount mainly because the MMF7 I originally purchased was defective. Is this overkill for this TT or will I be able to hear a difference. My current pre-amp was tweaked by an Agoner last year at a cost of $550. It's an Adcom and the tweak was noticable. The appeal of the Music Hall was the lack of constant tinkering involved. Is this a good move or should I keep saving for a better rig? My main amp is an Audio Research 150.2 and my main speakers are JM Lab Electra 926's. Thanks for the input!
john_fink

Showing 1 response by downunder

downunder
1,329 posts
 
The PH5 is very very good. It is a tube phono stage with a FET providing the initial gain, so for a tube unit it is quiet. Not as quiet as SS thou, but quiet non the less.
Musically it is great and changing loading and mono/stereo at the flick of a button is good.
personally I think it sounds musically better than the rhea and steelhead in my system.

I don't think it is overkill as you know the phono stage will be able to cope with any upgrades you around it in the future.

borrow it from your dealer and have a listen.
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