OK, back at the desktop....I ran the Dyna 20XM for a while. It would be a good match for your VPI and would work well with the ARC phonostages you are exploring. (I also ran the Dyna 20XL and 20XH and found very little difference between the three. With the right phonostage (i.e. one with sufficient gain) the 20XL was slightly more detailed than the higher output versions but whether the difference was due to the superiority of the lower output version or that I had just done a slightly better job setting up the 20XL is an open question. On my JMW-9 the best "budget" cartridge I ran was the AT OC9MLII. It was better than any of the Dyna's (except the XX2MKII which I also had for several months). I recently swapped out the OC9 for an ART 9 and the performance gains were significant across the board. If you can swing it, it would be an excellent match for your VPI and may be the best you can do without spending a LOT more money. There is a thread currently going on the ART 9 so if you are interested take a look at what others are hearing. There are no published reviews and little else on the web so you will have to take a leap of faith on the ART 9. I did and have NO regrets. If you go with the ART 9 you will need more gain than the ARC phonostages. I REALLY like the Herron--it is my end of days stage--and it sounds like you will get to try one out before purchasing. Great. I doubt you will be sending it back. My suggestion would be to try to pick up either a Dyna and/or OC9 cheap on the A'gon and buy an ART 9 new and try them with your Herron while you have it in your system. Either of the cheaper carts can be sold for essentially no loss and the only one you would take a hit on is the ART 9 since you would be paying retail. I do think though that you will find the ART 9 so vastly superior to the other carts that you will end up keeping it and selling off the used carts. BTW: I found it interesting that Harry Weisfeld of VPI chimed in on the ART 9 thread and encouraged the OP to buy THAT cartridge instead of the other dozens that I'm sure he has heard with his gear. I don't know if there is a stronger recommendation for a cartridge than to have someone with his vast experience with running countless different carts on his tables endorse a particular transducer.
Help with picking the right phono pre for the rest of my system please!
I'll try to make this short yet detailed enough for folks to weigh in properly. This group is honestly the most knowledgeable and helpful I've found anywhere, so I really wanted to get this out there and see what people here recommend before I spend more cash!
I need advice on a phono pre, please! The local shop (I bought local brick/mortar as I am trying to support that whenever I can) is super knowledgeable about analog so I trust their judgement, but my choices on phono pre's from them is quite limited, in particular with Audio Research in a model cross-over point with the PH6 and PH8 discontinued, which they no longer have in stock for me to demo.
Here's what I currently have in the rest of my system:
I just ordered a VPI Signature (Black Friday) deal which comes with the 3D printed tone arm and the SDS speed control module. It's my very first turntable and foray into vinyl, and I didn't want to start small as I knew I would just want something better if I started with a $1000 table. My research and a few buddies tell me this VPI is a very good start and could theoretically be my last turntable/tone arm.
As a cart, the shop recommended and has on hand (important so I can listen to vinyl soon!) a Dynavector 20x2 MEDIUM, which I guess is not very common, and kind of sits in a weird spot given it's output. But the recommendations of it being very musical seem to be a good place for me to start at $1k (and upgrade from later if desired). I heard the combo at the shop and it sounded fantastic, albeit going through a higher-end Audio Research pre-/phono stage, and with my PrimaLuna HP amp driving top-end B&W 803 diamonds.
In my system I'm feeding a recently purchased (same) PrimaLuna Dialogue Premium HP integrated, which I've upgraded all tubes on to KT120s and upgraded 12AU7s. It is absolutely stunning driving my Zu Soul Supremes. I mean the best my system has ever sounded. To add to my love of the amp, it has a built-in headphone amp running off the same tube stages that is driving my Audeze LCD-3s unbelievably well--so well that I'm going to sell my Auralic Taurus Mk II headphone amp. Because I listen to headphones quite a bit, and I'm so happy with my speaker output to boot, I want to make sure I put the right investment into the vinyl side up front.
My digital front end is an Aurender N100 feeding a Schiit Yggy, which I can't recommend enough. That combo smokes everything else I've had in my system, and there have been some decent to great DACs over the years. The combination is causing me to spend more on my analog front end because I know if the vinyl doesn't beat it regularly, I will spin less vinyl in lieu of the more convenient and excellent sounding digital.
So, here's what I have as options for immediate demo and purchase from a phono pre perspective:
As I think ahead to a lower output MC cartridge in the next couple of years, I'm nervous about getting too invested in a phono pre that doesn't have enough gain for the rest of my system and a low output MC cart. As I understand it, the PH line may limit me there and require I get a really expensive preamp with more gain at that point?
So, what other phono pre's should I consider in the $2-5K range (preferably used prices for a better value) that won't be a gamble with my system synergy, and best case also help future proof me?
BTW, I love musical and big sound stage with tonal midrange bloom over detail and "hi-fi" sound and/or insane bass. I would definitely say I'm a "tube guy" over SS in amps, but I've also read that maybe a solid state phono pre is better match with a tube amp to maximize the benefit of great vinyl.
Help please!
Thank you, Jay
I need advice on a phono pre, please! The local shop (I bought local brick/mortar as I am trying to support that whenever I can) is super knowledgeable about analog so I trust their judgement, but my choices on phono pre's from them is quite limited, in particular with Audio Research in a model cross-over point with the PH6 and PH8 discontinued, which they no longer have in stock for me to demo.
Here's what I currently have in the rest of my system:
I just ordered a VPI Signature (Black Friday) deal which comes with the 3D printed tone arm and the SDS speed control module. It's my very first turntable and foray into vinyl, and I didn't want to start small as I knew I would just want something better if I started with a $1000 table. My research and a few buddies tell me this VPI is a very good start and could theoretically be my last turntable/tone arm.
As a cart, the shop recommended and has on hand (important so I can listen to vinyl soon!) a Dynavector 20x2 MEDIUM, which I guess is not very common, and kind of sits in a weird spot given it's output. But the recommendations of it being very musical seem to be a good place for me to start at $1k (and upgrade from later if desired). I heard the combo at the shop and it sounded fantastic, albeit going through a higher-end Audio Research pre-/phono stage, and with my PrimaLuna HP amp driving top-end B&W 803 diamonds.
In my system I'm feeding a recently purchased (same) PrimaLuna Dialogue Premium HP integrated, which I've upgraded all tubes on to KT120s and upgraded 12AU7s. It is absolutely stunning driving my Zu Soul Supremes. I mean the best my system has ever sounded. To add to my love of the amp, it has a built-in headphone amp running off the same tube stages that is driving my Audeze LCD-3s unbelievably well--so well that I'm going to sell my Auralic Taurus Mk II headphone amp. Because I listen to headphones quite a bit, and I'm so happy with my speaker output to boot, I want to make sure I put the right investment into the vinyl side up front.
My digital front end is an Aurender N100 feeding a Schiit Yggy, which I can't recommend enough. That combo smokes everything else I've had in my system, and there have been some decent to great DACs over the years. The combination is causing me to spend more on my analog front end because I know if the vinyl doesn't beat it regularly, I will spin less vinyl in lieu of the more convenient and excellent sounding digital.
So, here's what I have as options for immediate demo and purchase from a phono pre perspective:
- used Audio Research PH3SE for $1250, which has already been input matched (soldered!) to the cartridge I'm buying--I'm expecting to like it as I've heard it kind of gives a "vintage" sound which I think might sound great with my Zu's, but obviously worried it might not be enough performance in relative terms
- SimAudio Moon 5.3 with external power supply (guessing around $2K)--I'm expecting it to be great given the reviews, but I have found SimAudio stuff a little dry and down-the-middle for my tastes in the past (I ran an I7 integrated for a couple of years and never totally fell in love with it in spite of it's tremendous performance)
- crap, that's it!
As I think ahead to a lower output MC cartridge in the next couple of years, I'm nervous about getting too invested in a phono pre that doesn't have enough gain for the rest of my system and a low output MC cart. As I understand it, the PH line may limit me there and require I get a really expensive preamp with more gain at that point?
So, what other phono pre's should I consider in the $2-5K range (preferably used prices for a better value) that won't be a gamble with my system synergy, and best case also help future proof me?
BTW, I love musical and big sound stage with tonal midrange bloom over detail and "hi-fi" sound and/or insane bass. I would definitely say I'm a "tube guy" over SS in amps, but I've also read that maybe a solid state phono pre is better match with a tube amp to maximize the benefit of great vinyl.
Help please!
Thank you, Jay
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- 40 posts total
- 40 posts total