Just received a new phono stage for my headphone set up that I use in my home office in which I just added a turntable to, an Aural Thrills Serenade tube phono stage hand built in the Dallas Texas area for $900.00, it is MM and MC with loading options. The first 2 hours were brutal but after that it opened up and I am very impressed, I have tried before to satisfy this price point with Jolida, used AR 3 and to many others to mention. Let me tell you something with 8 hours on this thing it is a keeper. I run an Allnic H1500 se II in my big system and have lived with the Herron,very briefly, Chinook, JC3 Parasound, Audible Illusions MB3 with the JC phono boards Allnic H1201 and others before settling on the Allnic H1500 so I have sampled some very good phono stages. After I get a few hundred hours on this ATA Serenade I will give my final impressions but if you are spending $900.00-$1,000.00 you have to give this thing a look, it is one of those sleeper deals. Good luck and happy listening
Help with phono amp upgrade
Hello: Need some input from those in the know. My current system:
Mesa Tigris tube amp
ifi phono pre
Sansui 2050c ( older belt drive table) with Hana SL cartridge.
question: i feel as though the IFi is very quiet and clear, but at times a bit harsh. I’m thinking of buying
a used Sutherland PhD to improve the harshness in my system. I’ve got around 2k to spend. Yes, i know the table is old, but it sounds sweet and haven’t jumped at a new one... yet...
thanks ,
Mesa Tigris tube amp
ifi phono pre
Sansui 2050c ( older belt drive table) with Hana SL cartridge.
question: i feel as though the IFi is very quiet and clear, but at times a bit harsh. I’m thinking of buying
a used Sutherland PhD to improve the harshness in my system. I’ve got around 2k to spend. Yes, i know the table is old, but it sounds sweet and haven’t jumped at a new one... yet...
thanks ,
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- 23 posts total
I would recommend you try IFI's new power supply with your Ifi Iphono. I had the Iphono2 and it is quite a bit better then the original. Really hard to beat for anything less then $1000. The new power supply is not very expensive well under $100 and worth trying. Also I've read good results with pairing it with their Tube stage buffer. now that said... If your going to spend $2k I'd highly recommend you read the review I wrote last week here when I compared the Gold Note ph10 ( $1500ish)Audionote Kit ( $2000) and the Allnic 1202 ($3800). I would also like to add in these the Manley Chinook as another excellent option in that price range. I own the PH10 and its a wonderful Phono stage and for the money one of the best I've heard for under $2k. I'd also say the AudioNote kit phono stages (there is three) are surprisingly wonderful sounding. |
Really hard to beat for anything less then $1000. Well, i disagree. Tried both: Chinese iPhono 2 and Australian JLTi mk4 side by side. The iPhono was creamed by JLTi mk4 which was $750 new incl. shipping. Now JLTi made mk5 with special power supply for AUD 1450 = USD 1030 including shipping worldwide from the manufacturer directly. Amazing deal and great support fom the manufacturer. JLTi brand has a long hystory in High-End audio, anyone remember Allen Wright ? The iPhono often sold defective, even after defective unit was replaced by a brand new unit, the buyer noticed it’s defective again (i’ve posted the links in another thread). This is a poor quality product, because it was Made in China. However, some units are OK, they are not all defective for sure. The iPhono indeed a bit bright for MC cartridges. |
Why not try another canadian product ? - Simaudio Moon I have the LP5.3 RS phono stage and it will probably be the last one I buy - silent operation - nice balanced sound - very detailed - exceptional dynamic performance - very configurable The more recent 310LP is basically the same model - just a bit more configurable https://simaudio.com/en/product/neo-310lp-phono-preamplifier/ Check for previously enjoyed models - you can sometimes get a bargain You do not need to get the external power supply - just use a good power cable + good interconnects to get best results Regards - Steve |
- 23 posts total