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Trafomatic Audio Luna LCR phonostage

These days I am looking into tube phono stages a lot. Especially phonostages which are within $5-6k and that can serve in a serious high end system. While I know that solid state phonostages have traditionally been known for their low noise and high dynamic presentation, I still believe that harmonics that tubes preserve (and SS throw away) can be a great asset to the end result i.e music. And if well designed tubes can do low noise and high dynamic range too.

I know that an all-tube 70db phono gain is a steep challenge and while there are manufacturers who have attempted it (e.g Aesthetix, NVO), the response from the users have been mixed. I am more for the conventional approach of using a top quality tube MM stage with a top quality SUT (matched to the cartridge) or FET stage. In this realm there are not many serious options in the $5k range if I look around. The few that I have looked at are:

Allnic H1500 II SE
Luxman EQ-500
EAR 88PB
Herron VTPH-2 
Leben RS-30EQ

Then there are some full function tube preamps which do have very competitive in-built phonostages like the Shindo Masseto, Manley Steelhead, CAT Ultimate etc.

Here is another one that looks like very good contender for a top quality tube phonostage in this budget:
http://www.trafomaticaudio.com/products/luna/

An LCR design using an all-out tube design with interstage transformers and output transformers, so absolutely no capacitor in the path. MC stage is handled by Lundahl 1941 amorphous cobalt core SUTs. This looks like a no compromise assault for this price category. I have not yet heard it but whenever I have heard Trafomatic products I have always come back with a smile. They have been consistently balanced and musical without any typical voicing artifacts. They never sounded like a product that has been hastily put together or built out of a garage. For a tube amp I have never heard them having any hum or noise issues. In fact I have always found his amps to have a very matured sound. In that regards this is a phono stage I am excited about. If anyone gets an opportunity to hear them, do share your thoughts here.
pani
lewm
13,124 posts
 
The Luna is an interesting product that I have not seen before.   It must be a new model, because I had been intrigued by their earlier phono circuit which used a pentode as phono input tube, and RIAA correction was accomplished by a circuit located between the plate of the pentode and B+.  This is a very novel idea.  Now it seems that the designer seeks to cash in on the popularity of LCR phono correction, which is fine and can sound great too.  I am not so crazy about all those transformers in the signal path, but hearing is believing.  Note too that using a step-up transformer for MC sets an upper limit on the load resistance seen by the cartridge, as in this case it's 100R and down from there.  I don't usually blow the horn for stuff I personally own, but for a full-function preamplifier, you might also consider the Atma-sphere MP1, which has enough inherent phono gain such that you don't need a SUT.  The only thing I would criticize it for is relative lack of flexibility and the fact that it actually has too much gain for MM or MI cartridges, some of which I like a lot.  That said, the MP1 blows away every other phono stage I have used for MC cartridges, in my main system.  I just bought a Steelhead for my "other" system.  It's too soon to say which is better between those two, but my money is on the MP1.  The Steelhead is MUCH more flexible as regards phono; the MP1 is MUCH more of a true full-function preamplifier, however, in that it offers multiple hi-level inputs, phase reversal, etc, etc.  

pani OP
1,219 posts
 
Dear Lewm, like you I too fail to understand why transformers (which involve Kms of wires) would be useful in the signal path however some of the best preamps and power amps I have heard are transformer coupled so I am ready accept that I don't know much. For instance the Wavac PR-Z1 is my reference for tube preamps and it is transformer coupled input to output. Similarly for solid state amplification the First Watt F6 is one of my reference and it too is transformer coupled input to output. I also like the top Audio Note preamps which are again transformer coupled. So I seem to have ample evidence that transformers has a case for itself when done right. 
pani OP
1,219 posts
 
I agree that OTL amps are amazing if properly matched to the speakers. I am not sure what happens in the case of preamp though since most preamps are at the least capacitor coupled. 
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