Dear @mijostyn : Good question that does no " talks " about cartridge inconsistences but phono stages with different design quality levels.
My experiences with the CH confirmed that statement because the same cartridge Etna Lambda SL runs in current and voltage design with no differences in signal to noise ratio and this against your unit speaks that the voltage CH design is really good because there is no reasons for a current design ( everything the same, specially the design quality level/knowledge down there. ) with same cartridge been superior to a voltage design.
Now, it’s way more easy to design a current mode phono stage that a voltage mode one and not all designers have the same knowledge level for both kind of designs but at the end there is no advatage between current vs voltage.
Other that CH I can’t remember other top top phono manufacturer using current design. I think that CH did it as marketing as a way to earn more money with out a true justification for the customers as is too the additional to RIAA different eq. curves and even the Wizard but it’s Ok because that’s the way for CH to offer its products to the market and always exist customers in that market for it as for your unit too.
" the point being that if a phono stage can not do both formats it should not be considered a viable option. "
Well, that is only a very personal statement that has a meaning only for you ( you are married with with out really knowing why. ) and that can’t be justified in anyway for cartridge owners that what the only thing we are looking for is the maximum MUSIC enjoyment where a good voltage design can and did it for years. Why have I to pay an additional money for that other option that in reality can’t outperforms the voltage one?
Please ask to Boulder, Gryphon, Dartzeel, FM Acoustics, Moons, and the like. Btw, Dartzeel designer says about :
" A lot has been written about phono amplifiers with a current source or voltage source… Many contemporary current source phono preamps claim that they are the something mostly unique and much more “modern”. Delétraz begs to differ. And with a reason…
The NHB-18NS uses a truly low impedance voltage source input so that the cartridge can express itself rather than being imprinted by the electronics signature of the phono stage.
Delétraz does not regard the source phono stages as inferior. All the contrary!
Delétraz does not regard the source phono stages as inferior. The CTH-8550 from 12 years ago already used a current source phono stage because it was easier to design it for a given (high) performance level. From Delétraz’s point of view, the revival of current sources and the assertion of anything new is not quite up to beat…"
R.
