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Whest Phono Stages

Having owned several phono stages starting with a more entry level Clear Audio unit (which I actually think is still very nice) and moving up the rungs of the ladder to other offerings; I started to research something which would perform in all of the aspects of what I want. I entered into a long exchange with a friend of mine who has had or used far more phono preamps than I have and he told me that in his opinion the Whest Titan Pro delivered more to his ears than anything else he’s heard. He did not own this unit, it was far outside of his reach cost-wise ($12K); however a friend of his owned it and allowed him to use it for a period of time. He has used tube and solid stage preamps, so he has experience with multiple formats of presentation.

This opinion started my extensive reading from users of the various Whest phono stages and what I was finding is that most Whest users not only stay with Whest, they usually upgrade into newer and more expensive Whest products. Since there are no audio dealers that I am able to go to in order to audition a Whest as they are sold in the US directly from Whest in London, I decided to simply find a used one and find out how it performs for me in my system. I was open to any of the mid level Whest phono stages as all of them are on the expensive side and I didn’t wish to spend the money required to buy something like the Titan Pro, so I kept an eye on what was showing up on the used market. I also spent a fair amount of time exchanging e mails with James Henriot on the differences between the products and what I would get in performance as I was to move up the line. My take away is that all Whest phono stages share elements of the top of the line products like the Titan Pro or the Reference V dual independent mono stages. The more the cost, the more the refinement and specialty elements such as suspension chassis to isolate the internal electronics from vibrations or more discreet hand matched components. It’s all about how much you are willing to pay to get to a new level to dig out the information cut into the vinyl.

Several months ago I found a very lightly used, almost new Whest Three Signature which is a main phono stage chassis with an external dual mono power supply and I bought it. I was shocked at how heavy the power supply is! This small chassis with the toroid transformer must weigh 5 pounds. The construction of both chassis units is really quite outstanding with a beautiful front panel and dual specially made XLR cables which run from the power supply to the main preamp.

The performance of this mid range phono stage ($4K new) is simply amazing. The details it digs out with tremendous dynamic output; it just puts to shame the other preamps I have used over the past two years. I can see why people who use Whest phono stages rave about them.

So now what do I do? Am I to stay with this Whest Three Signature from here forward and be very content? Or what is next? OK, next...... I just ordered a brand new NOS build Whest 2019 version PS.30 RDT SE using the front end components from the new PS.40 RDT series, Clarity caps, zero floating voltage, full chassis suspension, new heavier toroid dual high voltage/current transformers, full discrete bipolar PS.40 matched input section... .etc, etc. James said this 2019 version is a very different animal than all previous PS.30 RDT SE’s. I will have an opportunity shortly to test this against my fully broken in Whest Three.... can’t wait! With the Three  as good as it is, I am very hopeful that I’ll be in for a super treat. I just hope that I am not going to end up spending to get a Titan Pro by year end.....
128x128slimpikins5
slimpikins5's avatar
slimpikins5 OP
191 posts
 
Lew,

I suppose that technically a tube being a voltage device vs. a SS device being a current device it yes will be inherently quieter from my recollection of this stuff.   But tubes will lose vacuum with time as there is variation in the quality of the material used in the manufacture of the tubes, the out-gassing of the material have effects, the expansion differences in the seal of the metal pins to the glass, etc... it all causes vacuum loss with time.   Then you have to look at the resistance which changes with oxidation on the metal to metal contact of the pins to the socket.  I am only pointing out a series of issues that make owning anything with tubes something which I elect to avoid.   You don't have to be an audiophile to be able to hear differences and having many years experience with hearing and seeing degradation (a radio which cannot hold frequency with any accuracy due to a tube in the VFO going out of spec), I prefer the alternative.

Plus, who is making tubes these days?   If I am correct and maybe I am not as I don't buy any any longer other than keeping a few collectible radios running, you either  find NOS originals made in the US or you find some Russian tubes or Chinese.   The Russians do a good job with tubes, in fact I have some GU74B ceramic tetrodes which are excellent, but the Chinese stuff I'd totally avoid.  The old NOS US tubes I'd be concerned with due to the age and vacuum issue.

All in all, I'll stick with my Anthem M1 monoblock amps (or I'd be happy to take a pair of Bryston 28B3's) and my Whest PS 30RDT SE :)

  
boxer12
8,656 posts
 
3 payements / The whest model 3 signature (the only whest I've owned [so far]) is very clear, detailed, & three dimensional without having the typical SS "hifi" signature. It is also incredibly dynamic. I love it, but suspect you're looking for a tubed unit. This isn't that. The only tubed phono I've had (still have it but don't play it any more) is the Sonic Frontier Signature. That exhibits a "warmer" nature than the whest. Nothing wrong with either one really... it just comes down to preference. 
three_easy_payments's avatar
three_easy_payments
2,097 posts
 
@boxer12  Yeah, the further I dig into the Whest phonos the more I don't think they align with my musical priorities, nor does any SS phono stage I now believe.  Being honest with myself I think the one attribute I really was attracted to was a dead quiet presentation.  I do appreciation your reflections from experience on the 3 Signature.  Perhaps someday I'd try one.
boxer12
8,656 posts
 
I completely understand. If we all liked the same thing, there would be a lot less variety on the market :-)
slimpikins5's avatar
slimpikins5 OP
191 posts
 
@Three EP
If you are fortunate, you may find a used Whest out there to run for a while... I'd suggest the Whest Two as it won't kill you on price.  Don't expect it to perform like the upper level Whest preamps, but it will definitely play like them and that will tell you a lot in terms of whether you like what you hear or not.

I did the same thing; I picked up the Whest Three Signature through a guy who wanted to get into vinyl so badly that he bought a pretty high end set up to try it out.  He decided very quickly that he didn't like all of the hands on work involved with records and  went back to digital format.  I picked up the Whest Three at a good price and it wasn't even broken in.  I used it for three months and fell in love with it.  I had it in parallel with several other preamps so it gave me a good reference point for comparison.  That drove me to James at Whest to have a customized latest configuration 30 series built using much of the 40 series internals packed into the 30 left over case work.  It came in and sounded very much like my Three SE except it took things up to an even higher performance point.

If you get into a Whest Two, you'll be able to test drive what they are about; if you are pleased, you sell it and most likely break even and then order in an upper level Whest for obviously a lot more money, but you know what you are getting.... no surprises.   If you don't like it, you still sell it and most likely break even.   You win either way.
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