Help me pick a phono, pre and cart

Dear @jetson : It's easy to " spend some money of other person "..


Your Ayre selection is just spot-on because as a phono stage we need not only a very low noise unit for LOMC cartridge but very important is the RIAA eq. deviation where the Ayre really excels:


https://www.ayre.com/p5xe.htm

We have to avoid any single source of bad influence to that LOMC cartridge and that's why is better to sty away from any unit with a single or more tubes. Tubes are not for audio no matter what.

Other advantage is that that Ayre unit you can paired in the short future with another great Ayre item the AX-5 Twenty :

https://www.ayre.com/ax5.htm

and for LOMC cartridges you can do better with these options. Here we have to remember that's the cartridge the one will pick up the recorded LP signal and it's here where we can invest the best we can:

https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis9206j-ortofon-mc-a90-cartridges

https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis91i48-van-den-hul-colibri-xgp-gold-lw-new-latest-version-cartri...

https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis91ic5-sumiko-pearwood-celebration-ii-mc-phono-cartridge-moving-...


Happy hunting.


Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,
R.

@rauliruegas HA HA “It’s always easy to spend other people’s money” is one of my most favorite expressions, although it’s usually used when I’m talking about government or business. 

Generalizations on SS vs tube aside, I get your points;  that the P5-xe would match well with the current Ax-7e, and later an AX-5 Twenty, or VX & KX-5 Twenty pair if I were to stay with Ayre.  As well as the point that the cart will make a bigger difference than the pre. 

Thats is why it- the Ayre phono pre - and the Herron are the two on my short list.

Right now, although it would be a bit more initial cost, and despite the obvious synergy with other Ayre products, I’m leaning toward the Herron. This is because primarily because of its adjustability to different amps and carts, and because it’s well received by many here (some with Ayre gear), whose opinions I respect. 
 
 Unfortunately, getting a personal Px-5e to VTPH-2A comparison will be near impossible. Which, actually, is another reason I’m thinking Herron. If I go with Ayre again, because of the frequency that their components are resold, I could get a Px-5e, do a comparison, and if I decide to keep the Herron, resell the Ayre pre for  the same price I just paid. 

Dear @jetson :  Learning time your time, and your call. Good luck.

R.

@rauliruegas Which models of Herron Audio equipment have you heard?  Which carts did you try on those units?  

Dear @bpoletti : Many years ago I heard the VTPH-1 MC version and latter on the VTPH paired with the Shelter 90X and latter that same Herron with the XV-1 by Dynavector.

I know very well both cartridges because I owned and even that the Herron sounds " so so "/good in reality can’t honor the true both cartridges quality level performance I knew and know it has.

The Herron is made at a price point but it has in the LOMC and MM cartridge signal tubes and tubes are not for audio any more, we have to remember that we are living in 2018 ! !.

I don’t have to repeat/analize what I’m sure you already read about in some other threads from my posts in that specific tube regards and how damage the audio signal and why damages it.

That many people are accustomed to tubes only says that: are accustomed to but in any way says is rigth because is totaly wrong to use tubes in audio signal home systems. No matters what.

That many persons like what is wrong does not converts it in the rigth way/rigth road to go.

A good SS design always ( and I mean it. ) performs truer to the recording, tubes can’t do it.

That you as other gentlemans are accustomed to and are unaware of the damages it produce means only that: that are unaware of those damages.

Yes, we all need to grow up learning into our each day by day audio experiences ( everykind of. ).

I remember you that for years I owned tubes till I learned till I took in count what in reality I was accustomed to listen with tube electronics. No comeback there at any price. I'm for MUSIC and its emotional envolve.


R.