Phono Stages Under 10Kish

[tom_hankins]

http://www.i-fidelity.net/en/test-re...delitynet.html

I have been using the AudioNet PAM G2 for over a year. First stock and now with added outboard EPS G2 power supply. Excellent phonostage

[W9TR]

Anybody hear the Sutherland MCX phono? Seems very interesting but literally nothing written about it.

I've not heard the MCX but owned the pHd. For some time. It was a very capable phono stage.

The MCX uses Lundahl sut's so it's sound will be dominated by those transformers.

Lot's of great choices for preamps and cartridges suggested in this thread.

One caveat is that there is a lot of interaction between phono cartridges and preamps, especially if the preamp uses an sut. So you have to take reviews and opinions with a grain of salt unless they are the exact combination you're looking at.

For example the phono stage in my C500T completely outclassed the Sutherland pHd with the Dynavector Karat 17D3 cartridge that I was using at the time. Other people had very different experiences with the C500T, but they were using different cartridges.

Tom

[audioguy3107]

A lot of great suggestions in this thread, but for under $10K if we're OK with a dealer demo or gently used piece, it would be nearly impossible to top the Reference Phono 2 SE:

[W9TR]

+1!

[vintage_tube]

The $9,900 VAC Renaissance. I heard the Special Edition version (around $13K?) of this earlier in the month and it was mesmerizing.



Best Sirs,

Bob

[tom_hankins]

Originally Posted by W9TR

I've not heard the MCX but owned the pHd. For some time. It was a very capable phono stage.

The MCX uses Lundahl sut's so it's sound will be dominated by those transformers.

Lot's of great choices for preamps and cartridges suggested in this thread.

One caveat is that there is a lot of interaction between phono cartridges and preamps, especially if the preamp uses an sut. So you have to take reviews and opinions with a grain of salt unless they are the exact combination you're looking at.

For example the phono stage in my C500T completely outclassed the Sutherland pHd with the Dynavector Karat 17D3 cartridge that I was using at the time. Other people had very different experiences with the C500T, but they were using different cartridges.

Tom

I think your point about picking a phono that interacts differently with different cartridges can be controlled (as far as sound is concerned) by getting a phono that is neutral, quiet, and uncolored through the frequency range. That way you can hear just the cartridge/record.

[1KW]

Originally Posted by vintage_tube

Myself I'd like to suggest to the OP the MP1100 ($8K) or the MP100 ($2K) gets outstanding reviews as well.

Having a dual mono design with the left and right audio channels electrically and mechanically isolated from each other while the power supplies are electronically separated. Jeff Dorgay (ToneAudio) review states "the MP1100 is quiet. Perhaps one of the quietest all tube phonostages we’ve heard."



Best Sirs,

Bob

This looks attractive on a few levels, one is that you can digitize your vinyl direct from the MP1100 and is fully balanced design. If I were getting more serious about vinyl this would replace my C2300 . This and D1100 would make a nice combo.

[Jerome W]

I do not know the price of the Cyrus Phono Signature + PSXR2 in the US.
In France it is a bit less than 3k euros taxes included. Not in the "high end" league of the various models presented here.
I have owned a C1000P with an excellent onboard phono stage, an ARC REF 2 phono that was sounding extremely impressive, Shindo Giscours and Monbrison preamps which are famous for their incredibly natural onboard phono stages....but the performance of the Cyrus Phono Sig with its PSXR2 power supply is so good that I do not want to try anything else.
The unit could be a bit too mat sounding on some SS systems that already miss the glossy shine of the tubes ones, but with a tube line preamp or tube power amps or both, the synergy is incredible.
I get from my vinyl rigs the control, dynamics, precision that was missing with all my other phono stages.
The Cyrus Phono Sig plays well above its price tag imho.
And it is extremely user friendly with 4 inputs completely customizable and 2 outputs.
I guess that many units presented here will go a further in some areas of the sound reproduction, but I am not sure that I could find a real clear winner justifying the 7k more money to spend on it.
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IMG_6481.jpg.

[tima]

Originally Posted by audioguy3107

A lot of great suggestions in this thread, but for under $10K if we're OK with a dealer demo or gently used piece, it would be nearly impossible to top the Reference Phono 2 SE:

I'm inclined to agree. You should be able to find a nice used/demo unit for under $7k. Check the reviews, the ARC Ref 2SE can serve you for a long time; remember that at one point it was the very top phono from ARC.

If you (OP) are looking for a phonostage, turntable, tonearm and cartridge, my suggestion is to put money into the 'table and arm. Critical factors for the turntable are speed accuracy and very low noise. Pcik a 'table and match the 'arm to it. The 'table is the master clock of an analog front-end. The frequency portion, the time element of the waveform emitted from a cartridge, comes from the turntable. If that signal is not right, no amount of downstream gear can correct it.

A quality 'table and tonearm will get the most from any cartridge Even the best cartridges will be limited by mediocre 'tables and 'arms. Imo, building a solid foundation for your analog front-end is a good way to start.

[miner]

No mention of the Manley Steelhead. Have not heard one but read many positive reviews.