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Phono Preamplifier Redux .. Damn This is Getting Expensive

I posted previously in search of a phono preamplifier, but as I put together a system I refined what I was looking for.

My current Analog food chain consists of Technics 1200G turntable, Hana ML cartridge, unknown phono preamplifier, McIntosh MA12000 integrated, Sabrina X, pair of REL S/812 subs.  Also, Shunyata Everest 8000 power conditioner and a mix of Alpha V2 NR and Venom V10NR power cables.  Other cables: AQ Earth balanced interconnects, William Tell full range speaker cables.  Also, had to make some room acoustic modifications.

So, here is the problem.  I just got a Holo May DAC DTE and have been streaming by Roon, mostly purchased and ripped files on a Synology NAS.  The problem is that my digital side sounds much more musical than my analog.  Part of the remedy is on the way with 3" Tiger Maple equipment rack, but digital and analog are not close.  My Sutherland 20/20 LPT is going back.  It has limited front/back sound stage and the upper mids and treble are a bit shrill.  I say this because the Holo is just beautifully musical throughout.

Music Direct will be taking Sutherland back and has suggested the Esoteric E-02 Balanced as a solution.  So this post I'm raising my budget to 9-10K new, or used and prefer balanced out.  Looking for detail, dynamics and silent background.  I just can't have the digital so much more enjoyable... of course there is always selling all analog and staying digital, but that doesn't feel right.  

So, where do I go for balanced out and more musical, but retaining micro detail and dynamics?

vonhelmholtz
jmolsberg's avatar
jmolsberg
467 posts
 

i've never had issues with vibration and tubes. they are certainly not sensitive like a cart. 

mlsstl
1,372 posts
 

Question -- when you chose the Hana ML cartridge, what did you hear that convinced you to buy it over another cartridge?  Also, what phono preamp was being used at the time?  The easiest suggestion to my mind is to try the same preamp that impressed you when the cartridge was selected and work from there.

vonhelmholtz OP
898 posts
 

I never heard the cartridge.  I purchased based on reviews.  I just don't see the point of auditioning with different speakers, etc..  I really was intending to start small and things got out of hand,  The only pieces of equipment I purchased by audition were the MA12000 and Sabrina X which I heard as part of a system.  That particular shop was not into vinyl...or at least my salesperson and his supervisor were not into vinyl.

rmdmoore
146 posts
 

To complete with with that DAC you're going to need both more phono stage but also more turntable rig in my opinion. You're gonna need to spend 15-20k on a turntable, arm, cartridge and phono stage. I have a brinkmann Bardo with the 10.5 arm and an ortofon cadenza black running through a Rodgers high fidelity PA-2. It's outrageous with detail, soundstage, but more than anything it's musical. Other players when I was looking we're the kuzma stabi r with 4 point or j sikora initial. I agree that a tubed phono stage is the way to go for musicality. Get some tube dampers and NOS tubes and you'll be smiling

audphile1's avatar
audphile1
4,128 posts
 

The Hana ML is an incredible value. It excels in tone, detail and soundstage.  
To beat it you’ll probably need to spend 2-3x more for the cartridge.

Funny how we chase this…I’m in the same boat. My analog set up (MoFi UltraDeck/Hana ML/Sutherland KC Vibe II) sounded better than digital (benchmark DAC 3 HGC). I upgraded the DAC and now the digital sounds awesome and the analog is lagging slightly behind. There’s no end to it. You’re most likely going to end up beating your digital with your next analog upgrade and be on a mary go round with the DAC. 😂

On a serious note though…assuming your current analog set up is properly done, you might need to swap your table for something like Dr. Feichert with Kuzma arm, swap the ML and get Umami Red or mid tier Koetsu and get a phono amp like ARC Ref3SE. And then you’ll be right where I predicted…

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