Tube Pre Amp or Tube Phono stage


Hello FriendsI have put this question, to this site before??, But did not received, the answers??I have, a solid phono stage , a JLTI , what I like about it is I can inset RCA Cartridge loading plugs, that is a good option??Howe ever, the Pre amp, and phono stage, are all solid state, I wish I can retain the bass, but shave a bit of the top, which sounds a bit edgy!!For best results, should I replace the phono stage, with Tubes, or keep the solid state Pre amp??I want a deep bass?? with sweet highs??My Phono amp is a JLTI, solid stage, with cartridge loading via RCA plug's at the rear, I'm running a Zu/Dennon 103 cartridge, It has a cartridge loading at 300 ohms, I have both RCA plug's at that loading, but it sounds bright!!I have replaced one RCA plug, rated  at 250 ohms, to try and tame things down, if I wan't more bass, Should I inserted, the 300 ohm in the red out put, or the other way around??Which comes back to my original question, for better bass, and nice highs!!Tube phono stage, or Tube pramp??Friends, I live on the far south coast of Australia, the nearest hi Fi shop, is three hours drive away!!Can some one put me on the right pathMany ThanksDavidAustralia
128x128daveyonthecoast
Hi Davey, I don’t know the JLTI, but I think, yes, you may like a tube phono stage. I bought a used Aesthetix Io and never looked back - inserting it into my Krell s-state system....in fact it led me to invest in tube amps also. The Aesthetix brought out the best qualities in the Krell FPB600. Something else - and smaller than the Aesthetix Io (Rhea?) - may work well in your system.

I live in Norway, also quite peripheral, and sometimes I’ve gained a lot by just jumping into it, buying on A-gon for example, even if I have no chance to listen first. You need to do your research - what do users think of the combination you are considering. For what it is worth, my two pieces of advice is, 1) yes investment in cartridge and phono preamp is essential, and 2) tubes often (or to be honest: mostly) sound better. To my ears.