Quote:
Originally Posted by PHC1
Dan, go tubes.  Even the best SS phono may give you sharper transients, crisper dynamic contrast but will have a hard time matching the harmonic bloom and three dimensionality of a tubed phono. Tubes and vinyl just sound so right!
Just get the Manley Steelhead phono stage/preamp and be done with it.  Mikey Fremer has been using it for years. 
Manley_Steelhead_phono_stage |
Hi Serge,
I would have to disagree with you on that comparison. I used to own the Pass Xono and demoed the Steelhead at home twice. In comparison the Steelhead sounded SS , leading edge and threadbare - yes it had bloom, however it had that forward upper mid/lower treble forwardness/ brightness than can effect some tube equipment trying to sound fast.
BTW, If you grow detached from the ARC ref2, I will get better use out of it than Dan
I can afford a used one.
Dan
If the XP-15 is better sounding than the Xono ( which is supposedly is), it will be a very good sounding phono indeed. see if you can get a demo, or I think I saw one on gon.
But, like anything - if your system is leaning towards neutral, it may not be the best choice.
the ARC ref2 is in another league of goodness thou.