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Looking for phono stage recommendations

I have recently ordered a Sota Cosmos, with a Tri-Planar VII arm and a ZYX Airy 3 cartridge. A friend of mine is interested in my Pass Labs Aleph Ono phono, so that leaves me with nothing (thanks a lot Paul)to use for my new frontend.

Several friends have made recommendations. The Pass Labs X-ono, the Manley Steelhead, ZYX phonostage, and a Supratek(?) have been recommended. The Zanden and Boulder are out of my price range, so don't bother...

Are there any other phonostages that I should consider. I don't have a preference of Solid State vs Tube.

I have used and/or heard the Krell KPA and KPE already and they're not really in the running. Not that there's anything wrong with them, they are very good, I'm just looking for something better.

I want something quiet that will work for low output cartidges.

HEEEEELP!
128x128nrchy
simon74
216 posts
 
Hi there,
for my tuppence worth the Quicksilver stages are great & cheap.
Just bought a Syrah (which is lovely) but the phono stage does not compare with my Quicksilver & step up transformer.
I have listened to EAR stages & these are great but I would reckon unless you are using one of their amps, the Quicksilver is better.
The only ss stage I ever liked was the Lancelot Camelot but sold that as I prefered the Quicksilver - just sounded more like live music. Listened to Dynavectors, Dinos etc souless imo
Using zyx cartridges and after much fooling(never before having the option to change loading before the Syrah - well the Camelot but that was a pain to fool with) - imho 47Kohms still best.
NOS tubes, creatura dampers & cvc damping made a huge difference to the Quicky and just as an afterthought - ha, a decent power cord - a Shunyata Python made a difference to the DC powered Camelot I would not have believed !
Si
boa2's avatar
boa2
1,551 posts
 
Whest
--VERY good
nrchy's avatar
nrchy OP
2,124 posts
 
Sirspeedy - I really don't know what to get right now. I talked to Mehran about the ZYX, but he's only ever had one of them and I don't think he ever heard it in his own system. It sounded like he sold it right from the factory. He does have three other (It think) pre-orders, but...

I forgot to list the Rhea, but the only one I can find here is from Zhusain who was rather snippy in response to a question I asked him once, so I prefer not to deal with him. I love Aesthetix stuff and if I could afford it I would get the IO or the signature.

The problem with most of the recommendations is that I can not hear them within four hours from my home, and some not even that close.

I never thought about the Klyne, but I do have the 7LX3.5 that was upgraded a couple of years ago by Stan Klyne. I might have to give that some serious thought.

Keep the ideas coming.
g_m_c
443 posts
 
I am driving an ZYX UNI through a Tom Evans Groove Plus (used of course), and it sounds awesome. The Evans replaced a Herron tube pre.
r_f_sayles's avatar
r_f_sayles
872 posts
 
The Aesthetix Rhea from Jim White would be a nice option imo.
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