As you might guess the the AHT and Vendetta have each gone through numerous modifications. The design of the Klyne has probably been more stable. A friend with excellent ears has compared the most recent Klyne against an earlier Vendetta which he subsequently had updated to the latest T version (Teflon caps in RIAA, better wire and connectors, power supply changes). He preferred the Klyne over the earlier Vendetta but strongly preferred the T version of the Vendetta over the Klyne. I have heard an early AHT Non-Signature in my system and found it to be quite lovely, particularly its tonal balance; however, it lacked the speed and transparency of the T version of the Vendetta. The Vendetta was also much quieter. I understand that Lloyd Walker has purchased AHT from Dan Fanny and that the latest version of the AHT is very good, but I have not heard it. I hope that someone will comment on the Connesseur, FM Acoustics, Groove and Vanden units, all of which I understand to be excellent.
What is the best solid state moving coil phono section?
Either stand alone or in a preamp? I have owned various iterations of Curl Vendetta SCP-2 as well as a Crosby modified Spectral DMC 10Z and have compared the Vendetta against the stand alone Levinson unit. My particular Vendetta is one of a small number that incorporate custom Teflon caps in the RIAA as well as John's latest thinking on wire and connectors. I would characterize it as extremely fast and transparent with an incredibly low noise floor and excellent height, image width and depth. Tonally, I find it to be very good but different from the best tubed units. Likewise, it resolves images differently, with a sharper definition of the edge of instruments and performers but with somewhat less of the sense that intruments/singers have three dimensional bodies.
The only product with which I am familiar (note that there is an universe of phono stages that I have never heard, thus the question) that I find superior is the phono stage in the Blowtorch preamp. I own a Blowtorch sans the built in phono thus the need for the Vendetta.
The only product with which I am familiar (note that there is an universe of phono stages that I have never heard, thus the question) that I find superior is the phono stage in the Blowtorch preamp. I own a Blowtorch sans the built in phono thus the need for the Vendetta.