BEST PHONO STAGE FOR UNDER OR OVER 1GRAN

David, I have it on good authority (everyone that's heard and compared the thing, including the designer Mike Yee) that the Phonomena (WITHOUT the battery power supply) is 98% of the performance of an Audio Research PH-3 phono stage, which is a HIGH "Class A" rated component. I don't have the battery power supply yet, but expect to in the not too distant future...............I've not compared it directly to the Cube, but Bob at Elusive Disc, and everyone at Musical Surroundings, feels that it is far superior to the original Cube (none have compared it officially with any new or battery versions of the Cube, to my knowledge). I actually auditioned the Phonomena that was used at Hi-Fi '99, and the unit I have is a tad superior to it, with matched FET output devices............David, I'M NOT ONE WHO BLINDLY ACCEPTS TUBES SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY'RE TUBES. I certainly have never heard a tube power amp outperform my Krell in any way, and also have never heard a CD player coupled with a megadollar tube linestage that comes close to my Resolution Audio CD50, which is also a solid state device. SS is as good as real life, when it's done right, and they can be left on all the time. If you leave tubes on all the time, all you do is hasten the demise of the already short "prime" operating life of a tube. I look at it this way, for what you spend on tube replacements, I'm getting more software that you're missing out on......And I don't have a bias against tubes. When I hear a tube preamp that's better in every way than what I've got, I'll buy it. I should be able to afford it by then........I mentioned before that my headphone amp has 6922 tubes for the output, and I enjoy it very much...and because it is NOT euphonic, it's just accurate.

HI CARL,IVE BEEN WAITING FOR YOUR REPLY.I HAVE LEFT MY TUBE GEAR ON FOR SEVERAL DAYS STRAIGHT.I FEEL AN HOUR OR SO WARM UP TIME BRINGS IT ABOUT AT THE SAME PERFORMANCE LEVEL.ALBERT FEELS CERTAIN DESIGN TUBE GEAR CAN BE LEFT ON ALL THE TIME AND ACTUALLY LENGHTENS TUBE TIME.MY TELEFUNKINS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE GOOD FOR 10-100,OOO HOURS.ALL MY OTHER TUBES UP TO 7500 HOURS.THATS MANY YEARS OF LISTENING.I FEEL THE EXTRA EXPENSE OF TUBES IS WORTH IT.INSTEAD OF GETTING TIRED OF A SOLID STATE SOUND AFTER A WHILE AND SELLING IT I COULD JUST UPGRADE MY TUBES FOR A COUPLE HUNDRED BUCKS FOR AN IMMEDIATE,CHEAP,UPGRADE.TUBES ARE BEST,NO DOUBT.SOLID STATE IS MUCH MORE CONVIENIENT THATS FOR SURE.BUT THE REALISM AND SOUNDSTAGING OF TUBES CANT BE BEAT.I HAVE A FRIEND WHO HAS A KRELL KSA-250.IF I WANT A FREE HAIR CUT AND SHAVE I JUST GO SIT IN FRONT OF THAT FOR A WHILE.

David, your experience is yours, and my experience is mine, and the two are different. I'm ok with that. You are obviously biased against solid state, and I believe I am not biased against tubed devices. I just go by what I hear, and it's obvious neither of us will be changing our minds. I hope you're ok with that.

Carl,I am so glad you didnt trash me.I tried to add another posting after my last one but couldnt get in.Then I had to go out for the day.This is what makes our beloved hobby so fun.Sharing ideas and opinions.Yes I am biased and its obvious.My friends think Im nuts for being into tubes and analog! They are biased concerning S.S. and digital.BUT they feel my sound is more involving and has better sound staging then their setup.Regardless they wont convert.Go figure! But we all have a common bond and can disagree but still be cool about it.I need to calm myself a bit.Im staring to act like the "old Carl" Tell me what chill pill you took,I need one.Have a GREAT HOLIDAY Carl and everyone else.

David, you have a good holiday too! And I didn't take any chill pill, it's just that you guys finally decided to stop being babies and complaining about me to Neil every two seconds...........BTW, I feel that if you heard my system, you'd change your mind about solid state. And, I'm glad that I'm open minded enough to appreciate both CD and vinyl, and feel that those that close themselves off to either one are being silly. Michael Fremer agrees with me.