How do I choose a phono preamp?

RE: @bigtwin I am a big fan of Esoteric gear.  Since 2008 my digital front end has been Esoteric, X-03, K-01XS, and now K-01XD SE..  Superbly engineered and sonically special, so I am sure that the E-02 is a superb, resolving, quiet and neutral phono amp - but it is $10K.  Supposing you get a low output, low impedance cartridge, for that price, the Sutherland Dos Locos is magical.

It has an unbelievable ability to extract every tiny nuance from the grooves without losing musicality.  That component would blow the $15k budget but if you think you can stretch to a $9,500 phono amp - read the reviews, they are spot on.  The Sutherland Duo is very very good at 1/2 the price but the Dos Locos reveals another layer. Also it requires no setting of load impedance as it operates on the current from the cartridge.

FWIW the Dos Locos has an LPS, the Duo default is SMPS - with acres of filtering - to my ears silent, but an LPS version is available.

this is excellent advice, especially relevant to your self-described inclinations

"billstevenson

772 posts

11-05-2025 at 04:07pm 

I think you are getting some excellent advice here.  Lewm in particular is someone you can depend on absolutely.  Let me weigh in on turntables only.  You mentioned you have two local dealers, one carries VPI and the other Dr. Feickert.  Those are two excellent brands.  Either would be first rate, there are none better.  My advice is that you focus on those two dealers with an eye to choosing the one you are most comfortable with and buy your TT there.  The dealer will set it up for you and maintain it for you.  Over time your turntable will need to be re-adjusted, need stylus replacements and so forth.  The dealer is key to long term satisfaction.  There are lots of good brands of TTs and many have been mentioned in this thread.  The dealer can make or break the deal with any TT on a long list.  Shop for your dealer first."

dr feikert

both the blackbird and the firebird provide for an optional 2nd arm in the future if ..

https://www.feickert.de/en/turntables.html

VPI

https://www.vpiindustries.com/products

Their Unipivot Arms are designed to simply disconnect a mini-din connector and lift off. You can have a few arm wands with a variety of cartridges pre-mounted, i.e. two: 1 Stereo, one Mono ready to use, 

I’ve seen/heard Steve Leung’s prior VPI setup at VAS, he has a collection of arms and cartridges, he demo’s his cartridges and/or your rebuilt cartridge for you if you pick it up.

Your dealer could mount, align, and all you would need to do is adjust the tracking weight yourself, and anti-skate. Perhaps Dr. Feikert is a better choice, let the dealer add a second arm and you just pick one.

IF you think you might, then you need to solve how you pick which arm. 

You might ask your dealer if he would service a Luxman PD-444 at your home for you if you bought one. That is my pick of all the ideas I have blabbed about.

https://skyfiaudio.com/products/luxman-pd444-vintage-turntable-w-new-lyra-delos-mc-cartridge

I just noticed, it's 120v version, so no need for a 100/120 v transformer like I need for my JVC TT81 which is 100v version.