thoughts on phono stage

@vinylbliss regarding the value of phono stages.

I think an argument can credibly be made that the phono stage is the most important amplification step in any analog system. Information lost at the front end can never be retrieved downstream and the challenge of accurate RIAA decoding and amplification from <<1mV is severe

i just upgraded from a REF 2SE to a step up/solid stage MM only setup costing 3x the ARC, and more than my preamp or power amps. In my mind the improvement in sound is night and day, actually much more than when I originally went from a Hovland amp to the REF2 anyway

Anway I hope you get to try a variety of stages in your system, and don’t also neglect to look into step up and lower gain options as well, I find this combination has many merits
https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/on-step-ups-and-the-importance-of-managing-gain

"If it doesn’t come out of your source, it can’t come out of your speakers.”
Ben Zwickel of mojo audio

the phono stage is that important. I second Chuck, the Herron vtph-2a

Happy to have you any time @bdp24 but if you wait a month there may be new speakers too 🤪

Wow Simon, I can't wait to just find out what they are! Your Magico Q3's are mighty high performance, so your new speakers must be really special. Care to give us a hint? ;-)