James1911, Of the four you mention, the only one I'm familiar with is the Whest. The signature three I own replaced an older Sonic Frontier Signature tube phono stage. I like it much better in my system but can tell you it doesn't sound like a tube amp. If that is what you are looking for, the first 2 you mentioned are highly praised here. |
I’m using a Sound Smith Paua II cartridge with a Bob’s Devices Sky 20 SUT and Sutherland Duo phono amp. The sound is completely amazing. I’m not into hyperbole, but when I sit and listen to my albums I feel like I’m in the studio with the artists. It’s not just an aural experience, it is a tangible one as well. As far as I’m concerned Peter Lederman makes the best phono cartridges you can buy. Also, Ron Sutherland is a genius when it comes to (comparatively inexpensive) phono stages, and Bob Sattin (from Bob’s Devices) makes incredible SUT’s for when you need a little boost before your phono stage. You really cannot go wrong with any of their products. Have fun, and good luck! |
@ big_greg Sure glad you posted about Keith - - I'd been wondering about that. In fact, I just unhooked mine in order to photo and box for sale. I only had about 40 hours on it. I "invested" about $8K in acoustic remodel for my listening room, and have been listening to digital while I get my TT and new cartridge set up after taking everything out of the room for the new acoustics install, room sweeps, mod's, and refinement. Figured I'd buy another Herron phono maybe late next year. Dang...now I'm not sure I should sell it - - cuz I sure don't know what I'd replace it with! |
If you want to get a Herron, you better act fast. Keith said he's only going to make a couple more and I just ordered one of them. It'll be a couple of weeks before I get it, so I can't comment yet on quality, but I have his monoblock amps which are fantastic and based on everything I've read, I'm confident the phono stage will be a nice step up from my current Manley Chinook. |
I was using a Benz PP1, but I recently traded some unused speakers for a Chinese clone of the EAR 834 phono preamp (MM only), and have fallen in love with the thing. So now I am back to MMs (albeit, 2mV lowish outputs) for the first time in years. Waiting for a cheap head amp to arrive, to try it with a LOMC, and if that sounds as good or better than the Benz, I will start playing around with SUTs. |
@mbzmeister . .... now I thought I’d try a Hagerman Trumpet MC. It’s still burning in but starting to blossom. I upgraded the power supply with SBooster and installed gold lion gold pin tubes. The goal is to get this phono stage sounding as good or better than the icon audio/Telefunken combo and it’s almost there. Yep, I’ve had my Trumpet about 2 1/2-3 weeks, and it is really beginning to open up and sound great. Interesting about your SBooster, I’ve heard others considering that as well. Did you get the 15-16V unit? As the Trumpet’s power wall wart supply is 15V, I assume so? And is there any concern that it can be fed 16V? Or can you pick between 15&16? I have a 16V LPS power supply sitting idle, but was concerned using it with the Trumpet feeding 16V vs 15V. I guess I could email Jim, but it is tempting to try, especially as I don’t use it any more, as it used to power my old phono pre. Regardless, I’m using the stock tubes as well right now, and seems every day or so it sounds better. |
I recently had my Modwright PH 9.0 upgraded to a 9.0X and could not be happier. The unit is dead quiet. I'm currently using it with an Audio Technica AT-ART9XI and hoping to get my Soundsmith Paua Mk II back from rebuild one day. It paired well with the Modwright before it had an accident, but the Audio Technica cartridges are great match with it. |
So after reading all these I’m looking at 4 phono stages now. Herron VTPH-2A, Allnic h1202, Whest two.2, and the pathos in the groove (which was already on my list prior to this post) the first two would definitely be pushing the budget but if the customer service, build quality, and most importantly sonic performance is as good as everyone says they are I’m sure I could save up the extra funds. Thoughts on these 4 phono preamps? thank you! |
I am UK based and this reflects in my equipment selection. Current TT is Rega Planar 8 with Rega Apheta 3 MC cartridge and Longdog Audio MC J3 phono stage. The MC J3 is interesting as it combines solid state and tubes. It's the best I have had to date, previous phono stages were from NVA & Tom Evans. I thought both were good but lacked the wow factor of the MC J3. I have a broken Rega Apheta 2 MC that I am going to get Peter to repair with a new cantilever and tip when he hopefully recovers from his latest C19 infection. Even though I have never heard a Soundsmith cartridge my gut feel is I am going to enjoy it. |
Icon Audio PS1.2 MC with NOS Telefunken tubes - sounds great with the Tele tubes and Hana ML series cart @ 200 ohm load. With the NOS Tele tubes (not new anymore) running $400 - $500 each now I thought I'd try a Hagerman Trumpet MC. It's still burning in but starting to blossom. I upgraded the power supply with SBooster and installed gold lion gold pin tubes. The goal is to get this phono stage sounding as good or better than the icon audio/Telefunken combo and it's almost there. I'm not sure why the IA/Tele/Hanna ML combo sounds so good but it does. As we know...it's all about getting the right match of components that work well with each other and I just got lucky with that combo. Another highly knowledgeable friend of mine recommended the Trumpet MC. He's had his a while now and loves it. It comes highly regarded as probably the best value in a phono stage right now. |
"Fosgate Signature V2 with Audio Technica Art-9" Same setup as melm. Both(Foz out of production) excellent pieces. Presently have a Kiseki Blue thru the Foz. Soundsmith is a great choice. Get the most you can afford. You will have the ability to send it back when it needs a tune up. Used a $399 entry level Soundsmith Otello. It's "the best" in case of emergency, break glass-back up cart I've heard so far. |
I am using a rogue magnum stealth and an original rega ios and both are dead quiet even on an ultra low output mc cartridge so i can say that they are very good options. Also the parasound jc3+ would be a good choice and will grow with your table and system. The first two mentioned are also very quiet even on +100 decibel speakers which is very important for lovers of tube amplifiers. |
I'm really enjoying my Luxman/Ortofon front end. Turntable is the PD 171a with a Cadenza Black and I love my Luxman EQ-500. The one modification that I did was changing the LED from blue to green. My little trick was applying a tiny bit of transparent tape over the LED and coloring it with a yellow highlighter! |
Anyone using a Soundsmith cartridge? And if so what phono preamp are you using? (Individuals with other cartridges feel free to chime in!) SoundSmith cartridge can work with any good phono stage if this phono stage have optional loading and gain for MM or MC. After very simple mod my JLTi mk4 can provide whatever load impedance I want (RCA plug resistors on the back). Latest mk5 also can be modified by the manufacturer to let you change loading for MM. Amazing phono stage! I also use Gold Note PH-10 with PS-10 and WLM Phonata Reference. Current mode MC phono stage from 47 Labs (Phonocube). Optional Luxman toroidal silver or copper SUTs Optional headamp ZYX CPP-1 Too many cartridges here. |
Sold my Jolida JD 9 (modified: op-amps, caps, dampening, tubes, etc...) to help fund my new purchase. Am waiting (not so patiently) for my new SunValley phono pre-amp to arrive from Japan (via VK Music,Vancouver BC). Until the end of April (expected ETA), I am using the phono preamp in an Elekit TU 8500 preamp, with a DIY step up transformer and ZYX R50 Bloom lll/ ZETA tonearm combination. |
Hello I went through multiple phono pre’s before I popped on a Sutherland 20/20 with Lyra Delos cart. If you want super quiet low noise and have potential for hum,the Sutherland is a good choice. This is a great combo and I also just replaced a Scout 1.1 Shri a new Pure Fidelity Encore table with Origin Live Silver. I’m done...... for a while! Good luck Willy-T |
Rogers PA-2 with Hana SL1200. Was going to upgrade TT rig but decided to go for a deal on a used PA-1A and have it upgraded. Don't have it back yet (waiting with bated breath) but when I originally plugged it in I could not believe the difference it makes. I still want to upgrade the TT rig at some point but this is better enough by a lot that it's cured my upgradeitis. Thinking this might be the end game phono pre for me. |
Air Tight ATE2. 2 phono MM inputs and 1 Aux. Phono section driven by 12AX7 (ECC803S telef(3). Line section : 2 Ecc88 (in my case replaced them by nos E188cc). PSU incl : 12BH7 (nos Tungsol Sol), 6X4 (nos GEC), EF86 (E80F for me is the best EF86 if you have enough room inside the pre). If you connect the Air Tight ATH2 step up in one phono input you can drive 4 different carts. Sound is very very good and reliability is of the highest level. NOS tubes helps to cook your preferred sound. |
Van den Hul Grail SB with vdh Colibri and others, Ortofon A90, Audio Technica ART-1000. The Grail and the ART-1000 are the big discoveries here, both little known and of the highest SQ. Grail isn't cheap but the equal of much costlier top-end stuff. ART-1000 excels with precision, clarity and vivid soundstage. The Grail replaced a PH2 and the change was like moving from a transistor radio. |
