Tube Phono Stage or Tube Integrated- help!
OK All... My vinyl collection continues to grow, which now pushes me to improve. When I mean improve, I do not mean the ---" I'm now upgrading", as that usually means I am buying something because I was told its better.
What I am challenged with is moving back to a dedicated 2 chan setup and a dedicated movie setup. While I don't care if you call it an upgrade, side grade or down grade, I have bounced around preamps over the last few years and have recently installed a Marantz 8801. On one end, it is pretty amazing with movies and functionality, and while it does have a built in MM stage, I run a Denon 103R (mounted to a Acos Lustre GST-1 on a Micro Seiki BL-51). I bought a cheap Emotiva phono stage because it offers enough gain to run the Denon.
Sounds better than my music server but not close to what I am looking for.
The question is, has anyone seen an all tube phono stage with enough gain (and jacks on the rear) to run the Denon which outputs at .25mv. I can run the Marantz as Pure Direct and while it still goes through digital volume and the HDMI board to pass thru, it would give me pretty close to all analog.
I figured that I could always add the tube integrated later. Seems like if I did the integrated first, I would be stuck with the Emotiva SS phono anyway.
Which would be the lesser of 2 evils as I can't drop 2k on phono and another 3-4k on the integrated at the same time. Also- With regard to tubes,I know a decent amount about tube amplification but really nothing about tube phono. (tube type, how they help power and their sonic signature.
Thought this would be a lively debate, so I posted it.
Thanks in advance for all the responses!
What I am challenged with is moving back to a dedicated 2 chan setup and a dedicated movie setup. While I don't care if you call it an upgrade, side grade or down grade, I have bounced around preamps over the last few years and have recently installed a Marantz 8801. On one end, it is pretty amazing with movies and functionality, and while it does have a built in MM stage, I run a Denon 103R (mounted to a Acos Lustre GST-1 on a Micro Seiki BL-51). I bought a cheap Emotiva phono stage because it offers enough gain to run the Denon.
Sounds better than my music server but not close to what I am looking for.
The question is, has anyone seen an all tube phono stage with enough gain (and jacks on the rear) to run the Denon which outputs at .25mv. I can run the Marantz as Pure Direct and while it still goes through digital volume and the HDMI board to pass thru, it would give me pretty close to all analog.
I figured that I could always add the tube integrated later. Seems like if I did the integrated first, I would be stuck with the Emotiva SS phono anyway.
Which would be the lesser of 2 evils as I can't drop 2k on phono and another 3-4k on the integrated at the same time. Also- With regard to tubes,I know a decent amount about tube amplification but really nothing about tube phono. (tube type, how they help power and their sonic signature.
Thought this would be a lively debate, so I posted it.
Thanks in advance for all the responses!