+1 on the EAR 834P. Also consider a Hagerman Trumpet MC (it'll accommodate your cartridge without any need for a SUT), as well as the LFD LE and just about anything by Herron.
Great phono stage, with character, for a digital pre
I have been trying out a NAD M12 and M23 setup which is really nice! For my turntable I have a Sota Saphire VI with an Audiomod tonearm and a Dynavector Karat 17D2 MK II. My current phono stage does not wow me much (McIntosh MP100). Since the analog signal is going in and being digitized right away I was looking at other stages that may be warmer and give music that analog sound still. So looking for recommendations for a stage with character , $2500 budget, and I listen to classical, jazz, and rock.
- ...
- 17 posts total
@tomic601 it is, but it's so amazingly good! |
'Richness is in the Ear of the Beholder' There is no knowing where there cut off point is for it to be an unwelcome presence. I laid out a selection of methods to increase the presence of Richness being perceived during a Replay I have mentioned the Two Phonostages I have heard and can comment on as having a Experience of them in use. These are the Top of the suggestions for injecting a Richness through to Warm. It is possibly the most expensive of the suggestions and might be too much, of a influence and not too enjoyed as sonic influence as the outcome. One of my suggestions is seemingly being recognised as a contender for its overbearing presence of a Valves influence. More importantly, I know that these Models can be sourced in the US, within Budget. My thought process with knowledge of the impact of certain ancillaries, would be to have Two Pairs of the Cables suggested by myself. ( Audiomods Arms can be supplied with Through Wire - Cart' to RCA in Silver Litz, in this case a DIN>RCA Cable is possibly not able ti be used). Use one Cable Pair between Phono Pre > Digital Pre, this might prove enough of a injection of richness and hone the edges. Adding the SUT, if the SUT model with a Richer Impact is selected, (suggest Copper Windings), the Richness on offer will undoubtedly hone a harshness and soften the edges. (Note: A Short Cable Length is best when used between SUT and Phonostage). A Trial usage period might be able to be arranged, with a SUT on Standby to get the full range of interfaces, i.e, Phon's MC Stage > Suggested Cable >Digital Pre', SUT > Suggested Cable > Phon's MM Stage > Suggested Cable > Digital Pre', these configurations will be useful to discover if the MP 100 is capable to deliver the presentation the OP is looking for. If the MP 100 can be worked with to function at a level that is more to the OP's taste, it can be used to produce FLAC Files of the Vinyl LP's so this is advantageous, to somebody wanting to have Digitised Replays as well. Having an alternative Phon' available, especially one that is Valve and a already suggested model, will be the antithesis to the Phon' in use and will offer a complete new presentation in the realms of being Rich>Warm. Only the 'ears of the beholder' will determine where there is real attraction discovered and wanted to be maintained. |
Why not buy the NAD pair which you like? HiFi electronics are not supposed to have "character." They are supposed to pass an electric signal from one end to the other unscathed except for amplification. Any character they possess is distortion. Leave the character up to the musicians. The vast majority of the "character"/distortion a system has is coming from the speaker/room. Now it is a matter of choosing your poison or perhaps stumbling over it. |
- 17 posts total