Tube Phon' as an MC Input only?
Tube Phon' as an MM Input, with a SUT or Head Amp?
End Game Phono Preamp (tube)
Before you say ALLNIC a few caveats - I will only be using one TT so only need one input (MC). ALLNIC has up to 4 which is a lot of extra engineering I don't need and don't want to pay for. I'm coming from a very much loved Hagerman Trumpet MC with all the finest (to my ears) NOS tubes, external linear power supply, upgraded footers. It sounds terrific but I just have to scratch that itch to see if I can do better. If the only improvement I'll be getting by going up the food chain is less hiss, well, I can live with the existing hiss truthfully. I'd be expecting improved imaging, depth, resolution, cymbal decay beauty. Maybe I have it all now... if anyone has first hand experience with the Trumpet and can with an informed opinion offer a better option I'm all ears (hehe).
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I own a Viva Fono tube phono stage. It has two large boxes, one being the power supply that employs two 300b tubes as rectifiers. It has a built in step up transformer. Loading is done on the primary side by soldering in resistors at the input jack. I’ve heard, and liked, various Audio Note (uk) phono stages. These have only enough gain for moving magnet cartridges so a step up transformer is required. Their owncan be very expensive. I like the phono stages from Lector (Italian). They sound quite good and cost far less than the ones I’ve mentioned above. The same can be said of those of another Italian company—Synthesis Audio. The Japanese company—Zanden—makes very nice sounding phono stages, some with switchable equalization curves. While different curves are intended to play old LPs made prior to universal adoption of the RIAA curve, I thought that some modern records sounded better with an alternative curve. I would not dismiss the Allnic just because it has a multiple input feature you don’t need. I only briefly heard it in a system I was not familiar with but the system sounded good. Have fun on your search.
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Modwright PH 9.0XT https://www.modwright.com/products/ph-9-0-ph-9-0x-ph-9-0xt-tube-phono-stage/ or a PH-150 |
+1 @mofimadness Coincident Statement Phonostage tube Zesto is great with a very low noise floor but it has multiple inputs. NVO SPA-II Is an older phono pre has garnered good reviews, but company seems out of business as I could not find their webpage I know Aric Audio makes great line preamps, their phono only has 1 input. Personally, I wouldn’t worry too much about the unused inputs, or you’d be limiting your choices. I’d simply be interested in cost/performance with enough inputs. |
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