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Phono stage for tube system - recommendations?

I recently swapped my Blue Circle driving Merlins for the well regarded Ars Sonum Filharmonia integrated. I have gained a fair amount of air and presence but lost a smidgen of attack especially on higher spectrum of frequency. Front end is a Shelter 901/SME-V/Orbe SE.

I was previously considering moving from my modified GCPH to a tubed photo such as the K&K Maxxed out, Herron,JLTI Artemis, or Aesthetix Rhea, but am now having second thoughts going all tube, and contemplating upgrading along the lines of a Solid State Phono stage instead.

On the solid state side, the candidates are the usual suspects: Pass Xono, ASR, Whest, Tom Evans.

I'm sure at least a handful of members have come to this fork and have some experiences to share. Thoughts welcome!

Thanks,
Ben
128x128pureretro
nolitan
865 posts
 
which model of the K&K are you guys referring to ?

thanks.
dodgealum
1,398 posts
 
I'm running a Whest PS.30 into an ARC LS26. The Whest has got great transient attack, detail, dynamic swings and PRaT. Tonal balance is spot on with good dimensionality feeding through the LS26. A nice combination which outperforms some of the tubed units I tried before settling on the Whest.
bucketjr
17 posts
 
There is basically only one K&K. It is a tubed stage and uses the 6NP1. It is available in various configurations ie. with or without stepup etc.
nolitan
865 posts
 
Bucketjr,

Am looking at their website:

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?eanlg&1258998100&openflup&11&4#11

Is this the one that cost $899 with the enclosure or the maxed out kit for $1899 w/ the enclosure ?

Thanks... this is interesting!!
Noli
pureretro's avatar
pureretro OP
4 posts
 
Thanks for the enthusiastic responses. I failed to mention budget, which is around $2-2.5K used. At that price, a used Xono, new K&K Maxxed out with all the fixins', a used Groove, etc.

A strain gauge setup is probably beyond budget for now.

A mono switch is definitely a nice to have, and that brings the candidates to even fewer.

Keep the ideas coming!
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