Phono Stage with XLR outs

@audphile1 

Makes total sense. Dialing in the right turntable first will set the foundation for everything else. After three turntables in five years, I feel like I’ve finally found the one. From here, it’s just about choosing the right pieces to complement it.

The Hana ML is a fantastic start up cart to dip your toes, so you’re already starting from a strong place. Take your time with it, once you lock in the table, the right tube phono stage will reveal itself.

Enjoy the journey… it’s one of the best parts of going deeper into analog.

@lalitk thank you! Was listening last night and this setup sounds great. And @lewm I was incorrect in my assumption that the XLR outs on this phono stage are hotter. I emailed Whest and James indicated the outputs are the same.

@audphile1 What a great thread an discussion.

As luck would have it my Lukaschek PP1 started giving problems with the sound on the left channel, noticably dropping in volume comapared to right channel. This happned on Wednesday last week. This was only noticable on vinyl playback. 

So having followed this thread and you mentioning the WhestTWO.2, I started investgating. A couple seconhand units via HiFiShark available in the UK. Spoke to both sellers and got good offers, but they are around 5 years old.

After a lengthy chat thread with James Henriot, I got a great deal on a new TWO.2 Discrete - and even better that I don't have to pay the 20% VAT (only 5% when it arrives in UAE). He is also setting it up for my Sumiko cartridge.

Many thanks to you and all the others sharing input / experience 

@johannm awesome! Make sure to allow for some break in.
Whest is super quiet, extremely transparent and clear. That’s good news. Bad news it will let you know what’s going on upstream including turntable setup, how good your cartridge is and how pristine your record is.

I keep my two.2 on 24/7 ready to go. This also benefits the break in.
One other suggestion - use a high quality power cord. Doesn’t need to be ridiculously expensive. I am running Kimber PK14 on it and it made a very nice improvement - better bass, deeper soundstage. 
 

Good luck and let us know how you like it. 

@audphile1 thanks for the advice. I'm not afraid of bad news - rather know than not! Only then can you do something about it 

Will have to import a power cord then - only expensive ones available in this crazy UAE market!

Will let you know how it goes - delivery time is around 2 weeks. So latish birthday present and early Christmas gift. 

Enjoy the music!