I can't imagine any phone stage as overkill in any system. I think a lot of products, including cartridges, get a bad review, rating, first impression, etc., because of compromises in the system when the system owner has decided that product X is "good enough" for product Y.
It takes a lot of trial and error to find line stages and phono stages out there that excel in the 3D as Dhcod describes. I have heard no SS products come even close to the great tube products in this regard. I have also heard tube products that have stunning dynamics. The CAT immediately comes to mind, as does the Aria WV5 that I use.
It takes a lot of trial and error to find line stages and phono stages out there that excel in the 3D as Dhcod describes. I have heard no SS products come even close to the great tube products in this regard. I have also heard tube products that have stunning dynamics. The CAT immediately comes to mind, as does the Aria WV5 that I use.