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Phono stage for my system?

I am getting back into my vinyl collection and would like some recommendations from vinyl enthusiasts. My equipment includes the following. 

Ayre K-5xe pre-amp - no phono stage
Pro-ject Debut III turntable with stock Ortofon cartridge (OM 5e I believe)
Proceed HPA2 amp
Aerial Acoustics Model 8b speakers

I am currently using the phono stage in my Integra video processor/pre-amp the signal from which passes through the Ayre pre-amp. I find it lacking in detail and soundstage even when listening to some excellent DG and Decca classical recordings. I realize my cartridge may pose some limitations, so let me know if you view that as an area for potentially greater improvement. 

Given the level of my turntable and cartridge, my budget is up to $1,000 for the phono stage, with the understanding I may choose to upgrade the cartridge or turntable in the future.  Thanks in advance for your suggestions. 

sameyers1
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
Its not the cartridge, its the crappy home theater phono stage. Plus what are you running it through? Patch cords? Even a budget stand-alone phono stage will be a massive improvement, and then if you also get a pretty decent interconnect watch out, your table will be transformed. 

You can probably find a good used ARC PH3SE for under a grand. Hardly anything new that price will be as good, and if you upgrade you will probably be able to sell and hardly lose a dime, hard to do with anything new.


noromance's avatar
noromance
9,769 posts
 
Or buy a Schiit Mani for $149 and an Ortofon 2M Red for $99 for a shorter-term big upgrade.
big_greg
6,623 posts
 
A Parks Puffin phono stage will set you back $400 and leave you some money to invest in a better turntable and / or cartridge and sound a lot better than what you're using now.
sameyers1 OP
138 posts
 
As to cabling, the Pro-ject turntable came from the factory with RCA interconnects attached. They are likely replaceable if I open the bottom of the housing. The Integra is connected to the Ayre pre-amp with decent Transparent balanced interconnects. 

I appreciate the phono stage and cartridge recommendations. As to the turntable, my research suggests I would have to spend in excess of $1,000 for a material upgrade, plus the cost of a well-matched new cartridge. So I want to try a phono stage at home to see the extent of the improvement before contemplating the new turntable. That makes sense to me. Why run a better turntable/cartridge through a phono stage of questionable quality?
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