I would go with a Sutherland. The sound is exquisite. Ron is very good with customer service and support. Phono amps are his specialty. I started with the Hubble and now have the PhonoBlock. Not having to change batteries is a big plus.
Phono's $2100 to $2600
Dear all I would be interested in hearing your thoughts for a phono upgrade. What is driving this is that I recently got a Lyra Delos and a Nordost Heimdall phono cable as presents- the sound is simply in another league than before (prior cartidge was Benz low output glider). So now hooked- all I want to do is spin vinyl all day and all night!
The rig is VPI Aries 1 with upgraded footers, separate flywheel, and synchronose drive- the phono stage is a Trigon Vanguard II and this in turn is hooked into Prima Luna Dialogue premium (using nos 12au7's). The amps are Pass labs xa60.5 mono's driving Thiel 3.7's.
For a long time I was looking to upgrade the preamp but now I think I will got for the phono 1st and consider a new line preamp later on unless I find a full function preamp to do it all in one shot- obviously I would have to up my budget.
Anyway, assuming I just look at the phono I think I have narrowed my choices to the following with my budget:
1. Zesto Andros (about $2.1k used)
2. Sutherland 20/20 ($2.2k new)
3. Allnic 1202 ($2.6k used)
Potentially I could also look at the PS Audio Stellas phono (the advantage here is that I can trade in my trigon for full retails $500). And lastly, completely out of left field I have to say I have this urge to try a Sutherland PHD which just sounds like a wonderful phono that made a mark (and would be about $1k or so).
I should also add the Herron that seems to have quite a following but they simply do not show up used so I have put that one aside for the time being.,
I realize I should listen to these in my system but if buying used I can't always do that so I would very much like to get your opinions. The system sound good but I would like better soundstage depth and texture/detail- but without going overboard on the latter.
The rig is VPI Aries 1 with upgraded footers, separate flywheel, and synchronose drive- the phono stage is a Trigon Vanguard II and this in turn is hooked into Prima Luna Dialogue premium (using nos 12au7's). The amps are Pass labs xa60.5 mono's driving Thiel 3.7's.
For a long time I was looking to upgrade the preamp but now I think I will got for the phono 1st and consider a new line preamp later on unless I find a full function preamp to do it all in one shot- obviously I would have to up my budget.
Anyway, assuming I just look at the phono I think I have narrowed my choices to the following with my budget:
1. Zesto Andros (about $2.1k used)
2. Sutherland 20/20 ($2.2k new)
3. Allnic 1202 ($2.6k used)
Potentially I could also look at the PS Audio Stellas phono (the advantage here is that I can trade in my trigon for full retails $500). And lastly, completely out of left field I have to say I have this urge to try a Sutherland PHD which just sounds like a wonderful phono that made a mark (and would be about $1k or so).
I should also add the Herron that seems to have quite a following but they simply do not show up used so I have put that one aside for the time being.,
I realize I should listen to these in my system but if buying used I can't always do that so I would very much like to get your opinions. The system sound good but I would like better soundstage depth and texture/detail- but without going overboard on the latter.
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- 29 posts total
- 29 posts total