Tube Phono Stage vs Solid State What do you think?

Dear Almandog: As you can read each one has its own take, this is mine.

The Denon DLS1 is IMHO a way way better cartridge quality performer than your Dyna's. To be in the same league than the DLS1 you need something like the Dyna XV-1s.

So, I think that you need a phonoline stage that can " honor " the DLS1 quality and that has very high gain ( with out SUT that degrade the cartridge signal. ) with no-noise due that the Denon is very low output.

What to choose about depends on your main audio/music targets/priorities.
If what you are looking is to hear what's in the recording then you need IMHO a phonolinestage that be: neutral/accurate, IMHO there is no other way.
If what you are looking is that " soundstage, false 3D ( that does not came in the recording. ), colored sound " then your choice must be different.

In the first case the choice is a good SS design ( not that ASR. ) and maybe one or two good tube designs that IMHO are not any one you name it.

In the second case you can choose almost anything: tube or SS.

There are several factors that could tell us that for that DLS1 a good SS design is the way to go but in the other side I know that are persons that think in a different way.
I think, as I said, that you need to choose according with your targets.
Now, an investement in an audio item like this one you want to do needs that in some way you try to hear ( the preference in your system. ) different phonolinepreamps where you can near sure what goes with what you are looking for because if you buy at " random " then maybe in six months you will be looking for a new unit.

Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul.

Dear Stanwal: That you like op-amps it only means that but that that's the best way to go.

As I said: all depends of what you are looking for. If the ASR op-amps fill your gap good for you: that's your quality level " you die for ", mine is different.

Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul.

" but not ".

R.

Dear Stanwal: I never deny the MC cartridge quality, I own several top LOMC ones and I heard in my system the latest tops.
That some MM/MI cartridges can even or ouperform LOMC cartridges does not means that I can't recognize the MC quality level as the DLS1 that I own.

I don't know which is your point or what you are trying to say.

+++++ " recomending obsolete MM cartridges " +++++

obsolete?, well today there are hundreds/thousands of persons that in this moment are enjoying/hearing one of those " obsolete " MM cartridges you are refering and IMHO any one of them can tell you that are cartridges that has everything you want but OBSOLETE, they as me are hearing it right now: could you imagine why?

In the other side, always I can I judge any audio item for how it sounds and what is " inside " or how it measures: what's wrong with that?. What is inside/measures IMHO is a good complement for what I hear, can give me a better " history " of what I'm hearing.
I normally prefer to hear what is right along what likes me, I don't like to hear what is wrong even if could be " acceptable " like it is for you: well my targets are different as is my training that's not only in focus inside my audio system but through my experiences with several a lot of other audio systems.

Btw, about my speakers you have no single idea and I mean NO SINGLE IDEA how it performs, useless to argue about.

Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul.