Phono Stage


I am getting near the end of my current system journey.  I have my digital (streaming) side set (for now). It sounds glorious to my old hearing aid assisted ears. And streaming is where I spend the vast majority of my listening. 
Regardless, I am now focusing on vinyl, with the recent addition of a P8. 
My analog side: Rega P8 w/ Hana ML > Rega Aria > Kimber KS1018 > BHK pre > Zavfino Fusion mk2 > Moon 330A > Transparent + > KEF Ref 3’s. If do a weak link analysis both chatGPT & Gemini say it  my phono stage.

So looking for potential replacements. As always I am very space constrained, (half wides are perfect) no tubes and looking to stay under $3,000 used. I like accuracy, clarity & cleanliness. 
My current candidates: 
Rega AOS

Gold Note PH10

Sutherland 20/20 w/LPS

Sutherland Little Loco

The Sutherland’s work because they are thin and con fit under my raised center channel speaker. The duo stack is too high  

Please let me know your thoughts and/or recommendations. Thanks!

 

signaforce

@signaforce I’m not familiar with gold note or rega phono stages but 20/20 Mk2 LPS is a safe bet. The RIAA equalization accuracy differences in that last AI hallucination in your last post should be ignored.
Reach out to Ron Sutherland via email. I’ve chatted with him several times. He will explain the difference between the trans impedance Loco and traditional 20/20. List the cartridge specs. 

 

Also…

You’re probably right on the cart upgrade, but if I was going to do that, probably should have gone with the P10, as I think the P8/ML match is very good. Maybe someday, but my vinyl play is only about 10% of my listening.  

P8 is a very fine table. The Blue matches the P8 arm compliance wise. You just need to watch your VTA and use spacers if necessary. But this goes for the ML as well. 
As to percentage of vinyl vs digital listening…you, my friend, are in for a surprise here when you upgrade even if it’s just the phono stage. That 10% ratio will change big time. Don’t know how large your vinyl collection is but you will be getting some exercise in, going thru it. With either of the 3 phono amps I recommended, paired with your Hana ML, you’ll be blown away. 

Just my two cents, but I have spent and partially lost big money on two current driven phono stages that got rave reviews, and I ended up selling them both. Neither lived up to any of my 3 conventional voltage gain phono stages, and furthermore, current drive limits you to using LOMC cartridges. I found the current driven stages to be "electronic" or "transistory" sounding, in the old sense of those words before SS got so good as it can be now. Plus, surprisingly, with really very low output cartridges there was a faint hiss I could not tolerate.  Neither of the two units I auditioned is made by Sutherland.

My Hegel V10 is nice and warm sounding, easy to change cartridge loading, and sounded much better than my ARC SP6B, so it’s a budget recommendation in my view.

I would encourage you to look into the Moon 310LP. It’s a nice phono stage and on par with a Hana ML. If you want, and can find one, you can also spring for the accompanying 320S linear power supply. 
 

Used the pair will set you back about $2,000 or so, plus minus.