I had the opportunity to audition the Karan PH2 MK2 for a 2 week period against my resident ARC PH5
My system comprises LinnLP12/koetsu mc, Acoustic art preamp, ARC VM220 mono-blocks and Apogee signature loudspeakers
While I am a guy who generally prefers tube amplifiers, I have recently (reluctantly) found well designed solid state equipment to be just as good or better.
The Acoustic Arts pre-amp for example was a revelation and totally superior to my previous ARC SP11 in resolution, soundstage and bass extension. The AA preamp is also slightly warm and rates highly on the musicality scale.
But I needed a lot of convincing to consider replacing the PH5.
I found the Karan provided a much more rewarding musical experience. Improved resolution, tactility excellent soundstage with an overall warmth that's hard to resist. The Karan also provides a balanced output and more gain than the PH5 which I consider beneficial.
Amazingly there are virtually no reviews on the net so I hope this post encourages others to provide their views on the Karan PH2.
The ARC PH5 is superbly engineered and still a very good phono stage. It provided a HUGE step up over my previous SP11 phono stage. But to my ears the PH5 is a tad veiled and micro dynamics are a bit lacking compared to the Karan PH2 MK2.
It cost me real money to change over to the Karan PH2 but I found the sonic improvement too great to resist.
If you can find one of these phono stages you will find the audition very worth while!
My system comprises LinnLP12/koetsu mc, Acoustic art preamp, ARC VM220 mono-blocks and Apogee signature loudspeakers
While I am a guy who generally prefers tube amplifiers, I have recently (reluctantly) found well designed solid state equipment to be just as good or better.
The Acoustic Arts pre-amp for example was a revelation and totally superior to my previous ARC SP11 in resolution, soundstage and bass extension. The AA preamp is also slightly warm and rates highly on the musicality scale.
But I needed a lot of convincing to consider replacing the PH5.
I found the Karan provided a much more rewarding musical experience. Improved resolution, tactility excellent soundstage with an overall warmth that's hard to resist. The Karan also provides a balanced output and more gain than the PH5 which I consider beneficial.
Amazingly there are virtually no reviews on the net so I hope this post encourages others to provide their views on the Karan PH2.
The ARC PH5 is superbly engineered and still a very good phono stage. It provided a HUGE step up over my previous SP11 phono stage. But to my ears the PH5 is a tad veiled and micro dynamics are a bit lacking compared to the Karan PH2 MK2.
It cost me real money to change over to the Karan PH2 but I found the sonic improvement too great to resist.
If you can find one of these phono stages you will find the audition very worth while!