Phono Stage upgrade to complement Dohmann Helix One Mk 2

@lewm , sorry I forgot to mention. At this moment I am using my outdated TacT 2.2X. I have a DEQX Pre 8 on order. It has a much faster processor so you do not have to worry about digital volume. When you lower volume in the digital domain you loose bits. With my Tact at low volumes you are worse than a CD about 12 bits. With the Pre 8 you are still above 24 bits. The Pre 8 also has four crossovers so I can see what a ribbon or horn tweeter will do above 12 kHz. There is the Pre 4 which is essentially the same unit as the 8 but with only one crossover for your subwoofers. You manage the units with your computer and a dedicated program. You can design any target curve equalizing the system any way you want. I keep mine dead flat until 100 hz where I increase the bass at about 3 dB.oct down to 20 Hz were I roll off steeply at 80 dB/oct creating a digital rumble filter. It also prevents launching your subwoofer cones across the room when you drop the tonearm:-)

If you look at the Stereophile review of even the old SoundLab A1, they measured the panel as flat out past 20kHz, so the need for a super tweeter escapes me. But of course ESLs do beam at HF. Depends where you sit, and your hearing acuity. Your present digital volume control would seem to be wanting in fidelity. Ok if you can run wide open.

@mijostyn  : " It is all digitally recorded.  "

For many years many of us knowed that and so what?. I can't control recording proccess. Can you?

R.

 Mijo, You wrote, "Analog crossovers add distortion and phase shifts. Some can shift phase 180 degrees with a knob but only by ear which is a trial and error nightmare."  Do you seriously believe that doing a DAC to ADC conversion, where also the signal is manipulated in the digital domain, in the signal path adds no distortion?  With the very steep filters you favor, there would be phase shift too; does your TACT enable you to correct for phase shift?  For me, phase shift is a non-issue, because with my speakers and no crossover, neither I nor anyone else can hear a 180 degree change of phase. Double-blind tested with my wife and son and other experienced listeners.  Once you add a subwoof, I suppose that phase between the main ESL and the subwoof needs to be set appropriately, but that is easy; there is just one variable.  I credit your taste in components (other than the digital ones), which makes me very curious to hear your system some day.  Maybe I'm just old-fashioned.

@lewm , any decent processor corrects phase and time. Once in numbers you can do pretty much anything without adding any distortion. It is hard for old analog guys to believe. If there is anything detrimental in the process the advantages far outweigh it. It is a new world. Some of the old ways still apply after all, our ears are analog devices. However, when it comes to processing signals to do exactly what you want, digital rules. Lew, if we were face to face I would have absolutely no problem proving that to you. 

@rauliruegas Of course not! That does not change the fact that it is digital recordings we are listening to and they are superior in many ways to older analog ones assuming they are mixed correctly and not compressed into oblivion.