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Phono (0.1- 0.22mV+) or step up for LOMC?

A rookie needs some help please...
Would you buy a phono (0.1- 0.22mV+) or step up for LOMC? Which one? Why? It's an Ikeda 9TT (2ohm, 0.2mV) with a VPI Classic, and Dynaudio BM5 MKiii monitors with volume box.
I have found the following options in the past few days. Phono:
Gold Note PH-10 (0.1mV)
Gold Note PH-1 (0.15mV)
Gold Note PH-7 (0.15mV)
EAR 834p (0.22mV)
Nighthawk F117 (???mV)
Which one would you choose?
I am leaning towards the PH10, but honestly I dont need all those settings, but if IT sounds superior than the other then I would go for it. The Nighthawk sounds really good also for the price but I couldn't find the specifications and I am not sure if it's good as any of the Gold Notes. Used EAR 834p can be an option also but I read really mixed opinions about it. 
Now what I have now is a Musical Fidelity MX VYNL (0.4mV if its balanced), now I am running unbalanced. It's biggest advantage is I could run it full balanced all the way from the tonearm to the monitors and maybe some factory upgrade is possible, regarding to the website in the gain and plus a PSU.

Or step up?
Ortofon?
Denon?
It must be Max 1000pounds used.

Thank you all :)
128x128korakotta
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz
13,381 posts
 
I have been very happy with my ph10 so far. Very versatile and you may find all the settings useful at some stage, I certainly have.

I have used it with a shelter501 mk3 cart at 0.5mv and now with a ZYX rs30 at 0.24mv. This really needed very little change in setup, I increased gain from -3db to 0db and loading at 470ohm. This gave me my best sq to my ears. Obviously the more gain you run the more chance you risk of distortion or excess hiss/noise at the speakers without music playing.
I did a test changing to +6db just to see and I think I could live with the hiss if I needed to. But I think even a very lomc in the 0.12mv area should only need +3db gain at most.
But your results could differ considerably in your system.
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
Make sure to the JLTi phono stage from Australia. This is the reincarnation of the legendary phono stage designed by Allen Wright back in the days. You're a victim of reviews, but do not trust reviews that much. Forget about optional RIAA curves, nobody use them, just standard RIAA. For about $750 the JLTi is amazing, the older version was much more expensive because of the luxury box, the newer version is cheaper because the cbinet is cheap looking, but for us it is more important to look what's inside. 

Should not be a problem to run 0.20mV cartridges, but for 0.05mV (like my Ortofon MC2000) i would not use any cheap phono stages! 

Anyway you can add any SUT later on with JLTi if you need more gain. What you need for a SUT is a decent MM phono stage. The JLTi is superb for MM with all that optional RCA plug load resistors (on the backside). 
nandric's avatar
nandric
4,086 posts
 

My advice is consistent with chakster's but based on different

arguments. I own two pretty expensive phono-pres: Basis Exclusive

and Klyne 7PX3,5. Both have different amplification stages with

intention to use the lowest possible with the given cartridge. The

reason is : ''the higher the amplification the higher distortions''.

The max amplification (3th stage) by Klyne is 67dB by Basis 70.

The most of my MC's are low output, low impedance kinds. As

chakster a.o. I also  own Ortofon MC 2000 with 0.05 mV output.

But this is not a criterion. Your own of 0,1 -0.22 is better.

It is obvious that for such values you will need an pretty expensive

(MC) phono-pre. If the money is the problem as is usually the

case a SUT is better solution than ''cheap phono-pre''. I use Denon

 AU-S1 in combo with my Klyne for low output carts. This means

that even an expensive pre like Klyne is not warranty  for sufficient

amplification.


rsf507
2,315 posts
 
I have found the PH10 to be very versatile as uberwaltz stated you may not need all the settings now but down the road it may come in handy and for $1300 I think it's a bargain. 
roberjerman
4,319 posts
 
+1 again for nandric! A good SUT (Bellari) and a good MM phono stage will give you good and enjoyable music listening!
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