On the fence about Vinyl need a good phono stage for A/B testing

Geek101:

Please don’t read this the wrong way. Perhaps you mentioned earlier in the thread that you are planning to eventually move to a higher end cartridge, not that there is anything at all wrong with the 2M Bronze. If you do plan to move up then ignore this post, if not, I would humbly suggest that the EQ 500 may be overkill. 

audiofun, Would an upgrade to Audio-Technica AT-ART9 be good enough?. Would Luxman CL-38uC be good, an used BAT VK-P10SE or Herron VTPH-2A?. Luxman CL-38uC seems to be more than just a phono stage seem quite a value?. EQ-500 is just a stretch.

Geeek101:

I think any any of the others you’ve named would be good choices including an iFi iPhono 2.

 Of course it’s your dime and you are free to run whatever cartridge you want with any stage you choose. I just think the EQ 500 will not yield it’s true potential with lesser cartridges therefore why spend the coin, unless you KNOW that at some time in the future you’re going to climb the cartridge ladder :)

FYI, I had a BLab phono stage, about $9k, very nice indeed and better than a number of stages but the iPhono 2 was better to my ears. They were equal in all aspects except timing. The iPhono 2 simply had better PRAT. I was using a linear supply with the IPhono, I don’t allow SMPS anywhere near my three audio rigs.

I find Bat gear a little dark, I had a Rex pre years ago, didn’t keep it long at all. That could have changed as I haven’t listened to Bat gear in years.

The Luxman CL-38uC would probably give you all you need but again if you are just looking for a great stage don’t let the low price and diminutive look fool you, the iPhono 2 has embarrassed some very expensive pieces of gear and at Music Direct you have 60 days to love it or hate it :)

That’s my take on the subject matter. Whatever you decide I really hope you enjoy the end result.

Best

Or at least I try my best to keep SMPS’s away from my systems.