Analog Front End Next Upgrade

@tablejockey wrote:

" Have you considered a tube stage? Something like this will put your table/cart on the next level of "real" which only the BEST $$$ SS units can match. "

I think you have it backwards. S/S phono stages are infinitely cheaper than tubed ones (for the same level of performance).

Tubes, by design, are inherently noisy, so to build a quiet tubed phono stage does not come cheap.

The Allnic H1201 (that you link to) proves my point. New, it is $3,500. It is a very good phono stage, but a Blue Circle BC707 S/S phono stage can be found used for under $2,000, and will match the Allnic H1201 in performance.

Now, you may prefer the sonic signature of the Allnic over the Blue Circle, but in terms of the amount of detail revealed, they will be identical.

When I removed the power conditioner, there was an improvement...a no cost investigation.

Yes, I'd say tube phono stage of equal performance level with the advantages of tube sound would cost at least two times more. That's the reason why I still keep my Acoustech phono. I seriously doubt that those Allnic and Blue Circle could match it in terms of dynamics and bass. I would have to go higher, to the level of $5k tube phono stages to have everything better.

nordicnorm-my post is subjective, and I think most of us here, already know the tube rap- noisey, distortion etc.

Your comparison is subjective regarding SS vs Tube.

There isn't anything in my post that's backwards.
How many articles have we read about a very nice SS stage, and the reviewer mentions-it's almost like tubes"??