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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?

neonknight
kennyc
2,857 posts
 

High value tube phonos maybe second hand:

  • Coincident Statement Phono
  • Rogers PA-2
kennyc
2,857 posts
 

Crap, now I’m getting the idea to get a tube phono to tube roll, probably lots of fun but weary of going down tube hoarding with my addictive personality.  I’m trying to take the measured approach to play with tubes and the variety of extra tubes for more combinations included in the Decware SE84UFO25 seems ideal, but the 3 year waiting list….

wspohn's avatar
wspohn
650 posts
 

Wspohn, I and the internet remember the Classe DR3 as a 25W Class A amplifier that was indeed excellent sounding, but how are you getting 500W out of it, even in bridged mode? As I recall it ran quite hot even producing 25W owing to Class A operating.

A DR3 does put out 25 W into 8 ohms or 150 into 1 ohm.

The ones in my system are DR3VHC which put out 40 into 8 ohm and 230 into 1 ohm.  If you bridge them (into mono), as I run them though, the VHC puts out 160 W into 8 ohms and 500 W into 1 ohm (e.g. speakers like Apogee Scintillas.

 

neonknight OP
517 posts
 

The third arm in my collection of four arms is a 10.5" Audiomods Series Six Evolution arm that is terminated with a DIN plug and uses a Wireworld Micro Silver Eclipse 10 tonearm cable. I have a Benz Micro Glider H2 onit, and it feeds my onboard phono stage of the Trinov preamp. 

What I have discovered is that I am not a fan of meh level analog playback. I would sooner listen to my digital rig. Not that this combo sounded bad, it just was not special. 

So I wanted a high value phono stage. After a bit of reading back and forth on this thread, an opportunity presented itself. A fellow was selling a DIY phono stage based on Pete Millet boards and it uses inductors in the signal path, and has a robust power supply, quality resistors, and good internal cabling. I thought why not? Let us see what happens. 

I have it in the system for 3 days now, powered on 24/7. I have to say it exceeds my expectations, and is beautifully expressive, transparent, layered, and tonally balanced. There really is nothing to complain about sound wise. 

The one drawback is its got 45 and 55 dB of gain and 47K load, so its not meant for LOMC as it sits. I will need a head amp or SUT, and I am not fond of the clutter and extra boxes. But it is what it is. The sound is very enjoyable, and it is worth investing in. It deserves better than a Glider. 

 

dover
2,496 posts
 

55db should be enough for MC's in the 0.5mv range. Just comes back to how quiet the phono is.

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