OMG, I got the bill for the phono cards and it blew my mind... $355!! They cost $200 less than the Pro-ject Tube Box that they replaced.
I actually think the price is fair, because the little cars are about the size of the last joint of my little finger. Obviously they're well designed and takes advantage of the infrastructure of the Continuum, but it really only two very small cards. (When Jeff brought them out he said, "Don't let the small size disturb you). I guess my point is, ask a couple of other high-end makers how much it'd cost to add a phono section to one of their pre-amps or integrated amp and see how close to $355 they get.
A further thought or two about the phono "section." The background is total quietness. The tonal balance is perfectly neutral. I've got some RCA LPs of the CSO with Reiner and SACDs of the same performances. Well, the cartridge/phono-stage has the same balance as the the SACD.
With new studio style recordings, like Diana Krall, Nora Jones, Herbie Hancock (River), I can listen deeper into the vocals, hearing more nuance and lower level decay of tones. There's no stress and listening is great. Detail, clarity, dynamics, transparency and bass are all there in abundance and proper balance.
Gee, I can't wait 'til it's burned in. It's hard to believe that it might improve.
Dave
I actually think the price is fair, because the little cars are about the size of the last joint of my little finger. Obviously they're well designed and takes advantage of the infrastructure of the Continuum, but it really only two very small cards. (When Jeff brought them out he said, "Don't let the small size disturb you). I guess my point is, ask a couple of other high-end makers how much it'd cost to add a phono section to one of their pre-amps or integrated amp and see how close to $355 they get.
A further thought or two about the phono "section." The background is total quietness. The tonal balance is perfectly neutral. I've got some RCA LPs of the CSO with Reiner and SACDs of the same performances. Well, the cartridge/phono-stage has the same balance as the the SACD.
With new studio style recordings, like Diana Krall, Nora Jones, Herbie Hancock (River), I can listen deeper into the vocals, hearing more nuance and lower level decay of tones. There's no stress and listening is great. Detail, clarity, dynamics, transparency and bass are all there in abundance and proper balance.
Gee, I can't wait 'til it's burned in. It's hard to believe that it might improve.
Dave