Next Phonostage


I'm contemplating a new Phonostage to replace my Rowland Cadence. One of the driving factors is wanting multiple inputs for multiple tonearms.

My system is currently: TW-Acustic Raven AC-1/TW10.5 tonearm/Dynavector XV-1s cart with Rowland Synergy IIi preamp, Rowland 302 power amp and Avalon Acoustics Eidolon Diamond loudspeakers.

My listening tastes are everything except rap/hip-hop. Probably 50% rock/pop, 40% Jazz and 10% Classical.

My audio characteristics preferences I value include really black backgrounds, air around images, extension and musicality. Dynamics are also a plus.

My contenders are currently:

Audio Research Ref 2 SE Phono - rave reviews, most say this gives you best attributes of solid state and tube sound combined, might be a natural transition into tubes for me

Thoress Phono Enhancer - also known as TW Acustic Phonostage; might mate well with my analog front end, flexibility in dialing in bass, mids, highs, customizable sound

Manley Steelhead - heard this in a friend's system, very nice sound, very flexible, did hear a it of tube noise

Can anyone who owns one of these phonostages or has listening experience with them give me some input and advice on what would work best with my system?

Thanks in advance for any recommendations from the audiogon community.
philb7777
Another vote here for the Steelhead. Got one a couple of weeks ago, and the flexibility is amazing and sound without reproach. Havent got close to reaching its limits yet. No noise.
***Manley dealer disclosure***

As a quick FYI, if you heard tube noise in your friends Steelhead, I would think it must have been another issue causing it (tube, grounding, etc). The Steelhead is a very, very quite stage.

The Chinook does sound very good, but you lose the multiple inputs, volume control, line inputs, remote, seperate power supply of the Steelhead.
Unless multiple phono inputs is a must you should look at the 47 Labs phonocube and RCM Sensor Prelude. Both are outstanding phonostages with some of the best dynamics, tone, transparency and soundstage. There is nothing that they really fall short of except that the 47 Labs doesnt have multiple loading impedances, they are great with any low impedance cartridge.
I will only speak for what I have experience with
Thoress Phono Enhancer - Most flexilble. Can have one input setup for Mono and the rest for stereo. Insanely huge soundstage, but far the biggest and widest I have ever heard. Neutral.

I know you have not asked about the Tron, but I own a Tron Seven Ultimate Phono. Its very musical and highly resolving. It's very inflexible in terms of resistive load and gain, but that simplicity, to my ears, can be heard over other designs.

If you are located in Colorado, you are more than welcome to borrow my Tron and give it a try.

-Assad