Battle of the phone pres for my system.

Keeping a Cart' intact is always an under-the-surface worry; it requires a vigilant attitude when working with them, and best to keep a boundary that prevents the uninitiated from getting too close.

I know this well, as my Cart' is a one-off design; having it repeated also looks at the current time as a non-option, which does not leave me with a comfort zone where my future needs are being thought through.

For Phon's; keeping one's eye firmly fixed on a particular design will keep their attention of other designs that might be a better synergy in the home system and could be one that becomes wedded to for the rest of their time.

I strongly suggest an open mind and plenty of experiences during the time one id sharing time with a model selected and in use.

Putting other owned audio equipment into a better to understand context.

I have used the same ESL Speakers as the main speaker in the system from the mid 90's until the Xmas break of 25/26. I have used the same Power Amps in the system from the early 00's, and these still remain currently and will only be replaced when too much to work with; they are young men's sport. The CD Source has been the same for 10-ish years, and this is the first CD Source used in the system. 

Only Phonostages out of all the demos of audio equipment I have received are able to, with immediacy, influence an end sound and subsequently prompt decision making. When the end sound is right to the individual, it is right, and no other is going to dictate a different outcome. The rights for this individual were not found as an off-the-shelf product, but created by the hands of time-served electronics engineers, all of whom have the Vinyl Source as their passion for audio.    

@lalitk Good question. Working with Kevin Fielding (not sure if you looked at the reports but here is the most recent) https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_27JndFi-2HYjtwqYWtf1LlBMfVXV9P5/view?usp=sharing I was trying to solve massive bass build up in the corners from the Harbeth 40.3 XDs. Kevin said either add massive amounts if absorption or get smaller speakers and stick a couple of subs behind the MLP. There is a huge space to pressurize as that space opens up into a large open plan living area.

This was really good advice. The subs are integrated really well, you cannot tell they are there while sitting in the MPL, or anywhere else for that matter, and no bass build up in the front wall corners.

@lalitk 

Yes, I bought a Softone. Thanks for weighing in. I have hyperacusis and the Hana is as resolving as I can probably stand. I can listen to 2-3 records twice a week without the ringing in my left ear getting too out of hand. I'm looking forward to trying out some tubes in the Softone. Your system description and @macg19 thread was helpful in making my decision. On other forums, there are plenty that sing the praises. I think with this choice, I'll be getting a good match of detail and presentation. 

I was happy with the sound of the Musical Fidelity's phono stage. It's really the ability to use the Zrock3 that drove the purchase. It allows me to dial in some extra bass to soften any high pitched energy. I'll be using the MF A1's direct mode and use the volume of the Zrock to set base system volume. My understanding is that Hana > Softone > Zrock3 ought to do a good job dialed in so the MF A1 doesn't have to work too hard to drive the Dynaudio's. Though my listening volume doesn't exceed 60 db. 

I was already happy with the Zrock's abilities with my CD front end, but am looking forward to having similar happiness with it on the analog side. I almost gave up music, but the last year and a half has been trying to find the synergy between components and my condition to listen again. I'll report back when I get things setup.

@letch 

I’m glad to hear you found a path back to enjoying music. Hyperacusis can make this hobby incredibly challenging, and the fact that you’ve spent the last year and a half carefully building a system around your listening comfort rather than chasing specs speaks volumes. I may be right up there with hyperacusis, albeit without the ringing symptoms. As a precaution, I keep my listening levels modest, typically in the 60–69 dB range. I also never attend concerts or movie theaters without some cotton in my ears for added protection.

I think the Softone is an excellent choice for exactly the reasons you’ve outlined. It’s musical, natural, and avoids the etched or hyper-detailed presentation that can become fatiguing. Combined with the ZROCK3, you’ll have another valuable tool for tailoring the tonal balance to your ears and your room.

I would like to leave with a note for the future: once you settle down with M4, do experiment with cartridges like Hana ML. Please don’t automatically assume that a more resolving cartridge will aggravate your hyperacusis. In my experience, the Hana ML is actually less fatiguing than the SH despite extracting more information from the groove. The MicroLine stylus tends to track cleaner, with less groove noise, less sibilance, and fewer high-frequency artifacts that can trigger listening fatigue. It’s not necessarily brighter-just more refined and composed.

Many listeners equate resolution with increased treble energy, but the best cartridges reveal more detail while sounding smoother and more relaxed. The ML does a better job separating musical information from distortion, which can make longer listening sessions easier rather than harder.

That said, I’d absolutely enjoy the Softone first and spend some time rolling tubes. You may find you’ve already arrived at the balance you’ve been searching for. The most important thing is that you’re listening to records again and enjoying the experience instead of analyzing equipment. 

Please do report back once everything is set up. I’ll be very interested to hear how the Hana, Softone, ZROCK3, and MF A1 work together in your system.

@lalitk Thanks for the excellent response. The other piece of that puzzle is whether it’s worth the expense. I managed to get good value for my old system and now I’m just spending more money on things. In today’s world with the future uncertain and the end always near, I’m a little stingy at the moment. I nearly went with the EAR just on cost savings alone. But I'll consider it down the road. Since you put the bug in my ear (EAR! get it? hahaha, ouch!) I'll probably start obsessing over that. 

I went to a LOT of rock, punk, noise and jazz concerts over the  years before the ringing didn’t stop. Currently, I can go to the opera and sit in the back. It’s lucky that in the 90’s I worked at Tower NYC in the classical dept and learned to love opera. I do bring earplugs and shooting muffs. Once I forgot the muffs for Tristan and Isolde a few years ago and had the most sublime and painful experience. Powerful performance but the liebestod was way too loud. It was a few months before my hearing recovered from that. 

@pindac I like your notes, I’m hoping the Softone is what I need to just sit back and enjoy the music. I’ve had my fair share of equipment over the years and feel good about what I have currently, just need to be able to dial in a little extra to smooth the path to listening enjoyment. 

@macg19 Thanks for the help and encouragement with my predicament. I’m looking forward to celebrate good times, come on!