EAR preamp and phono products

i have had the 834l for about 2 years - it is a very simple design, and the sound is very similar to my AR sp10. retubed with yugo's it is very clean and transparent. tube life alleged to be about 5 years (left on all the time). some one wrote a review on this in audio asylum and i agree with his comments. the black face unit can be had used in 600 - 700 range which is in my opinion a bargin. this line stage has also been reviewed very favorably in the big mags. i can't comment on the 834p - i use my sp10 for vinyl.

I own both an EAR 834P (NOS) and a MS Phonomena. They are both very cost effective units. I'm a tube kinda guy and I like the EAR, particularly on string tones. Even adjusted for my tube bias I don't see how the Phonomena "smokes" the EAR.

I have listened to the EAR phono preamp at two friends house and feel it is a very good unit for the money. However, if you want a tubed phono preamp, my recommendation is the Quicksilver Phono Preamp which I believe still lists for $900. To my ears, it is more accurate and neutral than than the EAR 834P. The only disadvantage?? There are so few of them in the market (probably 100 +/-), that I've never seen a used one for sale (and I won't part with mine!)
So, if $900 new is too much, go with a used black EAR 834P and save a few hundred.

I have an EAR 534 amp that really sounds great - I also had an EAR 834P which I thought sounded pretty good - in fact real good until I tried a friends Electrocompaniet phono preamp which caused me to sell and I now own the Electro ECP 1 - check it out ! 995 retail - 800 in a deal on with the Audiogon dealer.