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Tube Phono Stage Recommendations

Hey,

Lately I been getting the itch to try a tube phono stage.

So, I wanted to reach out to get some recommendations.

Budget would be $2K or lower.

I am aware of the following that usually get good reviews and recommendations:

- Hagerman Trumpet MC
- Decware ZP3 (Looks like a real hardcore tube phono stage)
- Tavish (although not sure if they are producing at the moment)
- Black Ice Audio
- Schiit STJARNA
 

These are some that I am not really considering:

- Pro-Ject
- EAT
 

Any others that can be recommended that maybe I am not aware of?

Thanks

jay73
patrickalston
161 posts
 

Oh shoot, I see a vk-p5 is on USAM.  Id jump on it.  

jay73's avatar
jay73 OP
246 posts
 

Thanks again for all the great recommendations!

There is something that I want to try before I invest in a Tube Phono.

I ordered a Ifi Power Elite LPS for my Sim Audio Moon LP110 Phono Stage.

I want to see how that will sound.

But I know that I will probably pick up a Tube Phono soon also.

Now with all the feedback, I will just have to see which one I take a chance on.

Thnx

technomagus's avatar
technomagus
27 posts
 

Any particular reason to exclude Pro-Ject? I have their Tube Box DS3 B - using with my balanced wired tonearm and am very pleased with it.

faustuss's avatar
faustuss
795 posts
 

@jay73 

Unless you’re buying used the Black Ice Audio Fusion 9 MKIII Tube Phono Preamplifier and Fusion F159 Tube Phono Preamplifier are currently out of production. The Fusion 9 MKIII does not use tubes in the active stages, only in the output where they’re only intended to color the sound before it reaches your line input just like the Vincent mentioned earlier in this thread. 

@technomagus mentions the Pro-Ject which is a legitimate tube phono stage but beware of others in their line that only use tubes in the output stage.

+1 for the Icon Audio with an SUT also there is the PS1 MKII and a Signature version that has Mundorf silver, gold and oil coupling caps, and Genalex Gold Lion 12ax7LPS/B759 tubes.

jay73's avatar
jay73 OP
246 posts
 

A couple of you asked why I am turning away from the Pro-Ject Phono Amps.

No hate towards them but for some reason they just don't appeal to me intially.

I have not heard any of them but then I haven't heard any of the others either and it all starts with something that appeals to you.

And I think I am referring to the Tube Phono's from Pro-Ject not their SS line.

I guess I feel that they are not going to provide the same level of performance as other phono amps that have been recommended and if I am going to take a chance on one, it will probably be one of the others that have been recommended.

That's my honest response. Maybe If I get to hear one somewhere and see it up close perhaps I will have a different impression and opinion.

Thanks

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