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MM/MI Phono Stages


I am switching from a Dynavector 10x5 to a Soundsmith Aida. I was always very happy with the 10x5 even after hearing way more expensive carts I was never left dissatisfied with its performance. With its price increasing quite a bit in the last few years I have made a decision to go with a more expensive SS model that can be re-tipped and repaired instead of shelling out money for new MC every couple of years. 

I have been using a Musical Surroundings Nova Phonoema. I also have a very good internal MM in my pre amp that is pretty close the SQ level of the Nova just different.

If I buy used what MM phono stages should I be looking at? I want Capacitance loading options, better sound quality and I don't really want to spend money on the MC option because I don't need it. So are there really good stand alone MM Stages that give you more bang for your buck then getting one on of these MM/MC stages. 

Thanks

darkstar1
darkstar1 OP
180 posts
 
yeah I just put the Aida on the prime today. I really am enjoying it so far. I have some dialing in do. I am going to listen for a month or two then decide if I want to go SS or Tube. 

If you asked me today I would say tube. My system is pretty netural and so is the Aida. Its really enjoyable but a slight tube warmth may be a really good fit but I need sometime before I really decide. Thanks everyone. 
nandric's avatar
nandric
4,086 posts
 

The question is how to get optimal results in the cheapest way.

My answer is a good MM phono-pre in combination with a SUT.

In my second system I use Jasmine LP2 with improved MM

part with Denon AU-S1 SUT. I started with FR-FRT-4 because of

its versatility ( 3, 10, 30 and 100 Ohm) but the Denon sounds

better in my opinion and ''cover'' 3> 40 Ohm ''range''. While the

MC input by Jasmine sunds very good the combo with the SUT

sounds much better. Total cost +/- 1200 euro.



audiolabyrinth's avatar
audiolabyrinth
4,555 posts
 
I like the Vincent pho 700 mm/mc tube/solid state hybrid , this beats out numerous phono pre-amp's  costing many times more money 😎
sancho22
106 posts
 

Just for fun check out Tavish design Adagio MM/MC for about $1500.

No affiliation just a very happy customer - this great separate power supply phono stage is on par with my Shindo Aurieges paired with either the Auditorium 23 Denon or Hommage. A friend of mine borrowed it and A/B with a few others and was very sad when he had to return it to me.

Worth at least a look - YMMV

john_tracy
341 posts
 
I just finished building a K&K Audio Trio kit for a customer of Kevin's and got to listen to it for a couple of nights in my system. I was very impressed. This unit, the kit which costs $1395 in MM, pushed all the right buttons for me. Sparkling highs, fleshed out midrange, and solid bass. Excellent depth and width to the sound stage. Had a nice way of enticing one into the music it was playing. When I was listening I was engaged and not critical, not wishing I had my full bore K&K beta Venice in the system. In fact, the Trio  reminded a lot of the Venice, call it a Venice lite. And that is saying a lot. I have a SS Sussurro on my TT (0.4mV output) and the noise was not objectionable running into the MM input. So noise performance with a normal high output SS MI cart. should be fine.  There are socket pins on the main board so different loading resistors can be used. These pins could also be used to plug in different caps if one replaced the 1M soldered resistors with 47K input resistors.

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