Neon, the array of tube phonos you have owned ranges from meh to meh, although the Quicksilver has great potential for tweaking, mainly by upgrading capacitors used in the RIAA filter. In any case, your past experience does not justify a blanket judgement of tube phonos, so you might want to be more open minded. I have not heard the Fosgate but my guess is it’s more of the “pretty good” but not great category. I could be wrong of course. If budget is a major constraint on your choices, I’d think about the pre-owned market. There are some great bargains out there these days on really good stuff. Or consider the low end of a high end company, like Allnic, Manley, ARC, VAC, Atmasphere, etc.
High Value Phono Stages
The current phono stage is an Esoteric E-03, which I am quite content with. I have an Origin Live Agile w Transfiguration Proteus on one input and an OG Kiseki Blackheart on an Audiomods 12" Series 6 on the other.
I have a third tonearm, an Audiomods 10.5" Series 6 in the system with a Benz Micro Glider on it going into the onboard phono stage of the Trinov. Which is OK, but not excellent. I have a 4th tonearm that may come into play some day.
So what do you like in good quality phono stages that may not be TOTL pieces. I know the Darlington is a popular answer. Graham Slee often is. Some folks like the SOTA Pyxi.
Thoughts on output devices, topology and so forth are certainly welcome. Not a SUT user so that is not on the table. I have to admit that small format stages are interesting, like the Ray Samuels Nighthawk.
Any thoughts?
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- 80 posts total
@neonknight https://cheaptubeaudio.blogspot.com/search?q=Fosgate |
- 80 posts total