A Night with three phono stages Allnic 1202, ANK and GoldNote PH10
I had the opportunity to listen to three good phono stages this week. The Audio Note Kit ($2200), GoldNote PH10 ($2000), and the new Allnic Audio 1202 ($3800) this was a demo unit from the distributor. We listened in one long evening to all three with the same three records. All were played on an Oracle Delphi table through the phono stage then to an Auto former (passive) and to some very nice custom made 45 tube based mono blocks (2wpc) finally to some custom le Scala speakers (102db). Over all my friends system is very reveling of small changes to the system (not to mention noise and hum). I have to say every one of the phono stages are excellent the two tube units and the one SS unit defiantly had the typical differences from SS and tube. Also all were hum free.
The records of choice for this listening were; a UK first pressing of Pink Floyds Wish you were here out of a collection that had only about 6 plays since new (wow wonderful recording best I’ve heard of that record ever), Santana Abraxas half speed mastered addition another very good recording, and a mix of some Brazilian jazz can’t recall the band but great and some Mark Knofler few random cuts but we used the first three mostly for eval.
We started with the AudioNote phono stage then the GoldNote and finally the Allnic. Have to say every one of them is top notch and really between the ANK and the Gold Note it was basically boiled down to tube or SS both were comparable. I’d give the GoldNote more in the Bass, slightly better detail with more extension, instrument attack and separation of instruments. The ANK was slightly more musical and had a really nice midrange it was also very involving. Both had great PRAT as well.
After those two we stuck the Allnic in. we expected the Allnic to blow away the first two being twice the price but really it wasn’t that much better. I said to my friend after “is that all you get” I didn’t hear the hyp to be honest. This is a bit deceiving as you don’t really hear the difference right off it sort of comes to you after a few records. The Allnic brought more detail, better decay of notes, separation of notes and instruments and a nice warm I’d almost say laid back presentation maybe lush. I think the ANK and GoldNote both had better PRAT and the GoldNote specifically had better Attack. But the Allnic is a pleasant phono stage if that makes sense it’s a pleasure to listen to but IMO not $2k more than either the ANK or GoldNote just a bit different but in a good way.
The evening was a great chance to listen to some excellent for the money phono stages I know my friend is wrestling with the idea of selling his ANK and buying the Allnic. I’d keep the money and buy more records if it was my money.
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I own the GoldNote PH10 bought it on a whim and after that evening I’m very happy with what it can do. also being the least expensive of the three I would not put it at the bottom for sound quality its defiantly equal to or better then the ANK and I’d say gives the Allnic a run for its money in many areas (PRAT for example). I’d like to hear what the separate power supply does for the sound maybe in the future.
Note all phono stages were broken in, the Allnic was just from a reviewer who lent it to my friend for eval in his system before it goes back to the distributor.
From Gold Note’s website: " Gain: 65dB MC - 45dB MM with 4 options [-3dB, 0dB, +3dB, +6dB] " So, your options appear to be: 42dB 45dB 48dB 51dB 62dB 65dB 68dB 71dB http://www.goldnote.it/ph-10/ |
Thx, Ketchup. If 71 db is available, that would handle even an Ortofon MC2000 with .05mV output at the standard stylus velocity. (Ask me how I know.) My Steelhead maxes out at 65db and the MC2000 is marginal with that much gain. At those levels, you really do have to consider solid state (or an SUT), although I am a tube-o-phile at heart. I guess the way it works to adjust gain would be obvious to a user. From the 45 db setting, which must be MM, you could get to 42, 48 and 51 with the +/- options they mention. Then, from 65db, which must be the MC setting, you could get to 62, 68 and 71. Clever. |
If 71 db is available, that would handle even an Ortofon MC2000 with .05mV output at the standard stylus velocity. @lewm I’m using Ortofon MC2000 with Gold Note PH-10 not only at +6db setting which is mazimum (71dB), but also at +3db (68dB) as i have tremendous amount of power with First Watt amp and sup[er high efficient speakers. The only problem is that MC2000 with its 0.05mV output still produce some sort of background hiss which is like a tape hiss when the music is off. However, this is a nature of this cartridge with such a low output, even with its own specially made SUT the reviewers noticed the same problem: " Even with Ortofon’s own transformer, background hiss was a consideration, though not actually a problem. It was below, but not very much below, the surface-noise level of the quietest disc, and was clearly audible at "normal" listening levels when the arm was on its rest post." (on page 2). The Gold Note is dead quiet with any other cartridge, except for the 0.05mV Ortofon MC-2000 |
Correct Lewm The baseline of each mm and mc setting is 0db which equates to 45db and 65db. Then when you select say mm for that input cartridge type it sets the gain at 0db for the mm cart which is 45db and just with push of button you can go down 3db to 42 or up 3 db to 48 or up 6db to 51. When you select mc as the cart type in the menu it now resets the baseline to 65db where you can perform same up 6db and down 3 db steps. Very nice to have two completely independent inputs which again are switchable instantly from the front panel. All from the front panel without messing with jumpers or dipswitches. It is definitely the future! And as a huge bonus it is dead quiet and sounds fantastic to boot. One of my better purchases for sure. |
